When a journalist complained to ICC that ‘role model’ Virat Kohli verbally ABUSED him in Hindi

The journalist, Jasvinder Sidhu, who worked for the Hindustan Times then, lodged a complaint to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

When a journalist complained to ICC that ‘role model’ Virat Kohli verbally ABUSED him in Hindi

Virat Kohli (Image via ESPNcricinfo)

Back in 2015, Virat Kohli landed in hot water over something he did inadvertently. During India’s training session at Murdoch University in Perth in the middle of the ODI World Cup, according to a journalist, Kohli abused him in Hindi.

The journalist, Jasvinder Sidhu, who worked for the Hindustan Times then, lodged a complaint to the International Cricket Council (ICC), plus the media outlet also filed a complaint to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

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Sidhu, while narrating the incident, said that an agitated Kohli was standing beside the dugout and continuously pointed his finger at him. While returning to the dugout, Kohli stared at Sidhu and verbally abused him in Hindi.

But 10 minutes later, according to Sidhu, Kohli came out of the dressing room and smiled and waved at him. Kohli then apologized to Sidhu but through another journalist, telling him that it was a case of mistaken identity.

Team India’s then media manager, RN Baba, stated that there was a clear misunderstanding, denying that Kohli used any abusive words.

VVS Laxman criticized Virat Kohli for not keeping his emotions in check

Virat Kohli was then the captain of the Indian Test team. So former India cricketer VVS Laxman criticized Kohli for his inability to keep emotions under control. He advised the Delhi-born batter to take notice of his actions in public.

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli (Image via ESPNcricinfo)
Whether it is right or wrong from the journalist's point of view, it is important to do that behind closed doors, but not in the public domain or public space. He has to remember that he is a role model and people will be watching him, will be following him, and will want to emulate him.
Laxman told NDTV back then

Hindustan Times decided not to dwell much on the matter because of the 2015 ODI World Cup. India got knocked out of the tournament after eventual champions Australia defeated them in the semifinals.

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