JOIN USVirat Kohli’s outburst at a journalist from a national daily took a new turn with a formal complaint being filed with both the ICC and the BCCI against the star Indian batsman on Wednesday.
While the daily has lodged a complaint with Jagmohan Dalmiya, the newly-appointed president of the Board, the journalist has complained to ICC chief executive Dave Richardson.
On Tuesday, after India’s practice session at the Murdoch University ground, Kohli abused the journalist without any provocation only to realise that it was a case of mistaken identity. While acknowledging that the said incident took place, the Indian officials, however, maintained that there was no use of ‘abusive language.’
Kohli, it was complained, let out the choicest of expletives in Hindi as he confronted the journalist who took some time to gather that the batsman’s ire was indeed directed at him. Stunned by the barrage of abuses, the media personnel were trying to make sense of this senseless behaviour when Kohli emerged from the dressing room, smiling and waving at the same journalist who was the victim of his contempt not too long ago. The 26-year-old then sent out his apologies through another journalist.
In a damage control exercise, the team’s media manager R N Baba sent a two-line statement that both denied and admitted the incident. “There was a misunderstanding and no abusive language was used. Virat has spoken to the concerned gentleman immediately and (the) matter ends,” read the email.
Newly-elected BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, while maintaining that such incidents should be avoided, tried to downplay the issue. “He (Kohli) has clarified on the issue,” Thakur said. “For India, the ongoing World Cup is very important. We need to put all these issues to rest and (he) indirectly has communicated that he misunderstood the situation. Let's put this matter to an end. In future, I think, these kinds of incidents should be avoided and taken care of. I have not spoken to the players yet, the team management is there, taking care of all the players' needs."
India had an off-day on Wednesday and they are scheduled to have an afternoon session on Thursday, the eve of their match against the West Indies here. The Indian team was, meanwhile, given a ceremonial welcome on Tuesday by the Indian Consulate here.