Former Australian cricketer Simon Katich has commented on the recent controversies of Indian cricketers with Australian journalists. India players Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja had sour moments with the host press in the lead-up to the Boxing Day Test match in Melbourne.
While Virat Kohli confronted a female journalist for taking photos of his family without permission, Ravindra Jadeja was accused by the Australian media of not entertaining questions in English after an MCG net session.
Speaking on Channel 7, Katich termed the incidents as ‘mind games’ and said that they were being done due to the enormity of the series. The former Australian player hit out at the cricketers and said that the media was there to promote the game.
“Obviously, there’s been a few things unfolding in the last week or so, that haven’t gone down well at that camp. It’s probably just the mind games being played, given the enormity of this series,” Katich said on Channel 7.
“The media are here to promote the game and I don’t know what the Indians are thinking at the moment. That’s their problem,” he added.
Virat Kohli Confronts Journalist
Indian cricket star Virat Kohli had an argument with a female Australian journalist at Melbourne airport. The incident occurred when Kohli landed in Melbourne with his wife, actor Anushka Sharma, and their children on Thursday, December 19.
A journalist from Australia’s Channel 7 captured a video of the family, which angered Kohli, according to local media. The cricketer was particularly upset about the intrusion into his family’s privacy. He approached the journalist, requesting to view the pictures and videos taken. Kohli then asked her to delete any images or footage of his family, while allowing her to retain any of him alone.
Under Australian law, there are no restrictions on photographing or filming celebrities in public places, which likely complicated the matter.
“With my kids, I need some privacy. You can’t film without asking me,” he told the media at the airport.
Notably, Virat Kohli had asked the paps not to click photos of his family at the Mumbai airport when he departed for Australia before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Ravindra Jadeja Runs Out of Time
The Australian media has stirred up another controversy just days after Virat Kohli requested an Australian reporter not to take pictures of his family at Melbourne airport. Now the Australian press have accused spinner Ravindra Jadeja of refusing to answer questions in English.
Notably, Jadeja addressed the media after India’s first practice session at the MCG. The press conference proceeded smoothly until Jadeja concluded the session and decided to return to practice. At this point, an Australian journalist expressed frustration, displaying anger over Jadeja not answering any questions in English.
India’s media manager attempted to explain that the press conference was organised primarily for the Indian media, but the Australian journalist appeared unwilling to accept this clarification. The reporter was seen lashing out at the India team media manager, further escalating the situation.
Australian media: One question in English?
Team manager: sorry, we don’t have time now. You can see the team bus is waiting.
Aussie media: Can’t we take one question in English?
Manager: This was organised mainly for the travelling Indian media.
Aussie media: The organisation is hopeless.
An Indian reporter, who was present at the MCG press conference, highlighted that many Indian journalists also missed the opportunity to ask questions but refrained from arguing or causing a scene like the Aussie reporters.
“I was present there, and many Indian touring journalists didn’t get the opportunity to ask questions due to time constraints. However, after the press conference ended, a few Australian journalists got annoyed and argued with the Indian team’s media manager. They misbehaved as well, which was uncalled for. I cover press conferences regularly, and even during Australian press conferences, many Indian journalists don’t get the chance to ask questions due to time shortages, but we have never argued or misbehaved,” one of the Indian reporters told India Today.
