A planned friendly cricket match between Australian and Indian media has been scrapped, in further signs of deteriorating relations between the tourists and local reporters.
Following a tense confrontation between Virat Kohli and Nine reporter Nat Yoannidis at Melbourne Airport, as well as a bizarre press conference at the MCG in which Ravindra Jadeja only answered questions in Hindi before departing, the T20 press match, scheduled for Sunday afternoon at Melbourne’s Junction Oval, was abruptly cancelled just hours beforehand.
According to The Age, India’s media manager, who had a run-in with furious Australian reporters who described the presser snub as ‘disorganised and hopeless’ and who claimed Jadeja’s absence was to ensure he didn’t miss the team buss, was the first to boycott the planned match.
Other members of the travelling Indian media press pack then pulled out as well, leaving insufficient numbers to play the match.
Kohli’s airport run-in came after he objected to his family being filmed, with eyewitnesses describing a furious and aggressive approach towards Yoannidis.
Speaking on 3AW, veteran Nine sports reporter Tony Jones was scathing of the veteran’s conduct, describing the 36-year old as a ‘bully’.
“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,” Jones said.
“He took umbrage, he being Virat Kohli, to the fact the cameras were focused on him.
“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.
“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.”
Outside of a century in India’s first Test victory in Perth, Kohli has endured a tough series, with scores of 5, 7, 11 and 3 amid a series of edges into Australia’s slips cordon.
With the series tied at 1-1, India can secure the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for a fifth straight series with a victory at the MCG, with the match beginning on Boxing Day, while Australia, having restored confidence with a resounding win in Adelaide and having much the better of a rain-affected draw at the Gabba, will be hoping to continue their strong form.
The Roarhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2024/12/22/big-tough-man-virat-kohli-blasted-for-airport-run-in-with-journo-as-indian-media-match-boycott-adds-to-growing-tension/‘Big tough man, Virat’: Kohli blasted for airport run-in with journo as Indian media match boycott adds to growing tension
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