Virat Kohli has been repeatedly targetted by the Australian media
The fight to lift the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is a hotly fought contest with both India and Australia going at it hard. The 4-match Test series has seen a fair share of controversies — both on and off-field — and they are refusing to die down. Adding kindle to the fire is the Australian media.
Australian media had on Tuesday dubbed the India captain as Donald Trump of world sport and accused him of spreading fake news regarding their players.
But, the article got some big wigs to come out and bat for the 28-year-old cricketer. From Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan to commentator Harsha Bhogle to former Aussie skipper Michael Clarke, every one has derided the media for their ‘hate campaign’.
Amitabh took to Twitter on Wednesday to chi in with some banter of his own to shut down the Aussies. He thanked the Australian media for comparing Kohli with Trump since that meant them accepting that the Indian skipper was a winner and the “President”.
T 2471 – Aussi media calls Virat, Donald Trump of sports !! … thank you Aussi media for accepting that he is a winner and the PRESIDENT !! pic.twitter.com/ZOoNtuhtC2
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) March 21, 2017
Leading Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle also hit out at the “toxicity” blighting the series against Australia, and called for both sides to show restraint before the winner-takes-all final Test begins Saturday.
Harsha Bhogle
Bhogle feared that the glorification of aggressive on-field behaviour by media on both sides and passions boiling over could harm Test cricket’s reputation with the series on a knife-edge at 1-1.
“Friends in Australia tell me they are perturbed by the toxicity this series has generated. Cricket lovers in India saying so too,” Bhogle said on Twitter. “If we have to use toxicity and divisiveness to spread our game, we are using a short-term approach that can only be harmful,” added the veteran Indian TV cricket analyst. “I am particularly perturbed by the fact that some of us in the media are promoting this divisiveness and taking sides to spread ill-will.”
Bhogle said it was time the media stopped fanning the flames before lasting damage was done to Test cricket. “A lot of us entered this profession because we love sport and had the opportunity to talk/write about it. We didn’t enter to spread toxicity,” he tweeted.
Friends in Australia tell me they are perturbed by the toxicity this series has generated. Cricket lovers in India saying so too.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 21, 2017
If we have to use toxicity and divisiveness to spread our game, we are using a short-term approach that can only be harmful.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 21, 2017
I am particularly perturbed by the fact that some of us in the media are promoting this divisiveness and taking sides to spread ill-will.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 21, 2017
A lot of us entered this profession because we love sport and had the opportunity to talk/write about it. We didn’t enter to spread toxicity
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 21, 2017
Creating a Big Brother/Big Boss kind of toxicity to gain eyeballs and generate headlines will prove harmful eventually.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 21, 2017
I also believe administrators need to ensure that while there will be passion at work, and frayed tempers, it cannot be a series of its own.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 21, 2017
Even former Australia captain Michael Clarke has said that Kohli should not be “bothered” by a couple of Australian journalists who are trying to “tarnish his image”.
Michael Clarke
Coming out in support of the Indian captain, Clarke told ‘Aaj Tak-India Today’ news channel on Wednesday, “Comparing Virat Kohli with Donald Trump – what a load of s*** is that. What Virat did, even Smith would have. Bear in mind, I love Kohli and the Australian public love him. I always somehow find an Australian in him the way he plays and I absolutely love how he accepts challenges. It’s just two or three reporters who are trying to tarnish him but Virat shouldn’t be bothered.”
Clarke said even Steve Smith won’t be bothered by what Australian media is writing. “I don’t think even Steve Smith would bother about what the Australian media is saying. In fact both the captains would be telling their teams to concentrate on how to win in Dharamshala.”
TWITTERATI ALSO MOCKED THE AUSTRALIAN MEDIA:
If Kohli is Trump, then every night he must be thinking of Rahul Dravid.
You know obsession with the Wall.— Rajneesh (@MrMrRajneesh) March 22, 2017
Aussie media compared Kohli with Donald Trump.Not fair We never compared Smith with Kejriwal despite their continuous BRAIN FADEs.#IndvAus
— Sir Rohit Sharma (@SirRohitSharma_) March 22, 2017
If Australian media wanted to sound illogical, they should’ve compared Kohli with Sachin instead of Trump.
— EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) March 22, 2017
Aussies Media : Virat Kohli has become DONALD TRUMP of world cricket.
Me : pic.twitter.com/qAyMClfvcn
— Arvind K. Yadav 🇮🇳 (@TheAllRound3r) March 21, 2017
THE CONTROVERSY:
Virat Kohli compared to Donald Trump
Tensions have been ramped up in the India-Australia Test series since Virat Kohli stopped just short of accusing Australian captain Steve Smith of cheating in the aftermath of the second Test in Bangalore, which India won to level the series at 1-1.
The rancour was inflamed in the drawn third Test in Ranchi as Australia batted out the fifth day for a draw and allrounder Glenn Maxwell was accused of mocking Kohli’s shoulder injury.
Now, the Daily Telegraph newspaper says Kohli is behaving like a bully and accused the Indian cricket board and match officials of letting him get away it.
An article in the ‘Daily Telegraph’ not only criticised Kohli for his unsubstantiated claims but also expressed disappointment that neither the BCCI nor the ICC has taken any action against him.
“Virat Kohli has become the Donald Trump of world sport,” read the article. “Just like President Trump, Kohli decided to blame the
media as a means of trying to hide the egg smeared right across his face.”
“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. Smith had admitted one such incident, blaming brain fade for that, but refused to accept he did it more than once.
During the third Test Kohli had celebrated David Warner’s dismissal by clutching his shoulder, apparently retaliating Smith mocking his shoulder injury.
The Australian 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.
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