Former Indian player Irfan Pathan He publicly criticized the Australian media for its insulting portrayal of Virat Kohli. Speaking on Star Sports, Pathan expressed his disagreement with the 'Clown Kohli' headline, which followed a heated incident between Kohli and Australian debutant Sam Konstas during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Pathan did not use any words to describe the Australian media's approach as hypocritical. “First of all, the Australian media is beyond double standards,” he said firmly. “First they make you a king, then they show aggression by calling you a clown.”
Using popularity for profit?
the previous India Everyone also questioned the media's intention behind such stories. He accused them of exploiting Kohli's global popularity for commercial gain. “You are using the popularity of a cricketer to make money. This way you are heads and tails, which is not acceptable to any of us ex-cricketers, especially Indians,” Pathan said.
This sentiment resonates strongly with Indian fans who have taken to social media to call out what they see as a targeted campaign against their star.
Pathan did not stop at pointing out the current contradictions. He has raised previous cases of Australian Questionable player behavior that is downplayed or overlooked. He explained, “What Virat Kohli did was wrong, there is no doubt about that, but the International Criminal Court is the one that decides the amount of punishment.” “The Australian media is making a big fuss about this, but they forget what their players did in the past, who spat on Ramnaresh Sarwan and insulted his family.”
Supported by Sunil Gavaskar
Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar He also joined the discussion supporting Pathan's sentiments. Gavaskar criticized the Australian media and accused them of playing the role of “twelfth man” in their team. He emphasized their selective criticism, pointing out how they easily ignore their players' misconduct while discrediting rivals.
The controversy started on the first day of the fourth Test when Kohli collided with Konstas during the 10th over. The ensuing verbal exchange led to the ICC imposing a fine of 20% of Kohli's match fee plus a penalty point. While Kohli accepted the punishment, the Australian media's overreaction, including the “Kohli the Clown” headline, sparked outrage.
Indian Cricket fans have been vocal in their support for Kohli. Many see the Australian media's portrayal as a calculated ploy to divert attention from their team's shortcomings. Social media was filled with posts criticizing the “double standards” highlighted by Pathan and Gavaskar.
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