In a bizarre turn of events, the Australian media called India’s captain Virat Kohli as Donald Trump of world sport and said that the Delhi lad is spreading fake news.
An article in the Daily Telegraph expressed concerns over the BCCI and ICC for not taking any action against Virat Kohli for making unsubstantiated claims during the four-match series against Australia.
"Virat Kohli has become the Donald Trump of world sport," read the article.
"The Indian captain is a law unto himself with no one – not even the ICC or his own board – holding him accountable for his continual perpetuation of fake news." The ongoing series had seen a lot of off field fireworks with Kohli saying Steve Smith repeatedly took help from his dressing room while taking DRS decisions.
The article claimed no such footage was available and official broadcaster had actually apologised to Smith for their part in spreading claims he mocked Kohli's shoulder injury.
"In fact television footage clearly showed it was a teammate's hand on Smith's shoulder as players embraced to celebrate the fall of Kohli's wicket," the article read.
The newspaper was disappointed that no action was taken against Kohli.
"Surprise, surprise though, the man who last week launched a scandalous attack on Smith and the Australians where he accused of them being systematic cheats, refused to apologise or provide any concrete evidence in his post-match press conference. This despite the relative diplomacy shown by his superiors at the BCCI."
"Special players are allowed to have bad series, but Kohli's great crime is he's proven that the spirit of cricket is officially dead... Test captains, under the rules of the game, are supposed to be the flag-bearers for upholding the spirit of the game, yet the ICC has allowed the Indian captain to destroy one of the foundations on which the game has been played for more than a century," the article read.
"Even when the BCCI called a ceasefire with Cricket Australia last week, Kohli still refused to back down from his cheating accusations. Like former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga, Kohli relies on a flagrant disrespect of his opponents and the game to fuel himself and his team."
(With PTI inputs)
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