Virat Kohli is “Classless” and an “Egomaniac”: Aussie Media

The Test series between India and Australia is over, but the controversies don’t seem to come to an end.

File photo of Virat Kohli. (Photo: BCCI)

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.

Australian newspapers came 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.

‘Kohli Acted Like a Child’

"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 newspaper 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.

Russell Gould, Journalist, <i>Herald Sun</i>

This is not the first time the Australian media has taken on the Indian captain Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli had accused the Australian cricketers of disrespecting India’s physio Patrick Farhat during the Ranchi Test. After Steve Smith denied the allegations, an Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph accused him of spreading fake news and compared him to the controversial US President Donald Trump.

C’mon, Aussie media, maybe it’s time for you to move on too.

‘It’s Selling Their News, Good Luck to Them’

However, Virat Kohli made it very clear that the Australian media’s criticism doesn’t matter to him, ahead of the fourth Test against Australia at Dharamsala. He expressed that if whatever being written about him was selling, then he wishes the media good luck.

(With inputs from PTI)

(Join The Quint on WhatsApp. Type “JOIN” and send to 9910181818)