'Virat Kohli Is A Bully': India Legend Faces Backlash From Australian Media After Airport Row

Virat Kohli talking to Australian journalist [Source: @theapril29th/x.com]

India are gearing up for an all-important clash with Australia in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday, December 26. With the series tied 1-1, all eyes are on the teams as they face off. However, off the field, the spotlight has shifted to former Indian captain Virat Kohli, who is facing criticism from the Australian media following an incident at Melbourne airport.

What Exactly Happened At The Airport?

Kohli arrived in Melbourne with his wife, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, and their children. However, he found himself in an uncomfortable situation when a female journalist, Nat Yoannidis, was filming his family. In Australia, public figures like Kohli can be photographed or filmed in public spaces, but Kohli was not happy with the journalist’s actions. He asked her to delete the videos of his family, while still allowing her to take pictures or videos of him alone.

Although the confrontation didn’t escalate, the incident caught the attention of the Australian media. Tony Jones, a reporter from 9 Sports, was particularly critical of Kohli’s behaviour.

He accused the cricketer of bullying the female journalist, calling his actions "unbecoming" for someone of his stature.

Jones expressed his disappointment on national television, stating, “Nat was out there with a cameraman, a Channel 7 reporter was out there with his cameraman and they were doing what we do on a daily basis essentially, and that’s be at the airport to actually get identities, whether they’re politicians, whether they’re sporting identities or whatever." 

“Well, duh! You’re a batting superstar, you’re a global superstar in the world of cricket, and he takes umbrage to the fact that the attention is focused on him," he said. 

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“What really got my back up when I saw the footage was that he turned around to the three blokes, the two cameramen and the reporter from Channel 7, and said you guys are OK, it’s her.

“Really? Big tough man, Virat.

“And then he stood over this girl, Nat Yoannidis, who’s about five foot one, five foot two, and just absolutely berated her. You’re nothing but a bully, Virat," he added.

Indian Players Face Criticism

The criticism didn’t stop with Kohli. The Australian media also targeted Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja after he held a press conference conducted entirely in Hindi. Jadeja’s decision to answer questions only in his native language led to confusion and frustration among some Australian journalists who were hoping for responses in English. 

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