The Australian media on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Virat Kohli, labelling the India captain as “classless” and “egomaniac” following his no-longer-friends comment at the end of a spiteful Test series, PTI reported.
Australian newspapers came down hard on Kohli for declaring that he no longer considers Australian players as friends after what happened in the four-match rubber, which was marred by acrimony between players of both the sides.
The Australian media also took a jibe at Kohli after India reportedly snubbed the visitors’ invitation for a beer at the end of the series which the hosts won 2-1 to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“Virat Kohli had to shake hands and move on after series win but he acted like a child,” read a headline in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph, which also called Kohli an “egomaniac”.
“Beergate: Kohli’s latest classless act”, another headline read.
Peter Lalor of The Australian added: “If there were any doubts about the poor spirit between the Indian and Australian sides it was confirmed after the series when the home side shunned a suggestion the two sides drink together.”
They also compared Kohli’s behaviour with his opposite number Steve Smith, who apologised for letting his “emotions slip” during the aggressively-contested series.
“All Virat Kohli had to do was say sorry. Steve Smith did,” wrote Herald Sun journalist Russell Gould.
Darren Lehmann disappointed with Kohli’s ‘no-longer friends’ comment
Australia coach Darren Lehmann also expressed is disappointment at Kohli’s “no longer friends” with Australian players comment.
Asked about Kohli’s comment in a pre-departure media interaction, Lehmann said, “Disappointing but that’s his opinion isn’t it?”
On whether he thought that the rest of the Indian team had sentiments similar to Kohli, Lehmann replied in the negative.
“No, I don’t think the Indian team [feels that], I too was very impressed with Rahane’s captaincy. I thought he was brilliant,” Lehmann said, trying to side-step the query by referring to Rahane’s stand-in captaincy during the fourth and final Test in Dharamsala.
Kohli had missed the series-decider owing to a shoulder injury and even that had been mocked by the Australian players.
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