Indian cricket star Virat Kohli was involved in a verbal exchange with a female reporter at Melbourne Airport, sparking media attention ahead of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The incident occurred a day after the third Test in Brisbane ended in a draw, leaving the five-match Border-Gavaskar series tied at 1-1. As Indian and Australian players arrived in Melbourne, reporters gathered to interview Australian pacer Scott Boland, tipped to replace the injured Josh Hazlewood for the upcoming Test.
During the media interaction, cameras shifted focus to Kohli, who was seen nearby with family members. The cricketer, known for his fiery temperament, appeared visibly upset when his family was filmed in the public space.
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In the ensuing confrontation, Kohli confronted a Channel Nine reporter in an animated exchange, criticising the intrusion. Despite other media personnel and a cameraman capturing the footage, Kohli directed his frustration at one particular reporter. The incident unfolded in full view of the media contingent, though the Indian cricket team has yet to issue a statement on the matter.
Kohli’s on-field performances this series have been a mixed bag. While he scored a century in the first Test in Perth, his subsequent scores of 5, 7, 11, and 3 have raised concerns. India narrowly escaped defeat in the third Test at the Gabba, thanks to rain, after being outplayed in Adelaide during the second Test.
Former Australian captain Allan Border questioned Kohli’s recent form, observing that his dismissal for just three runs in Brisbane was uncharacteristic. "Normally, he’d leave that delivery alone if he were at his best," Border remarked during Fox Cricket’s coverage. "Something seems off mentally with Virat."
Kohli, with 270 million Instagram followers, has consistently sought to shield his family from public scrutiny. Reports in The Indian Express last month underscored this preference, highlighting how Kohli and his wife, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, avoid exposing their children, Vamika and Akaay, to media attention.
The couple occasionally shares glimpses of their family life on social media but ensures their children’s faces are not visible. A recent post by Sharma featured Kohli holding their children, with heart emojis obscuring their faces.
As the spotlight shifts back to the cricket pitch for the iconic Boxing Day Test, this off-field episode has added another layer of intrigue to the series.
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