Advertisement

Virat Kohli slams teammate at centre of sexism storm

Yahoo Sport Australia

Inappropriate comments have cast a shadow over India’s Test celebrations and ODI preparations, with Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul facing suspension amid a sexism scandal.

Virat Kohli is waiting to hear from India’s board whether Pandya, a gun allrounder who is normally an automatic selection in India’s one-day team, is free to play Saturday’s SCG series opener.

Pandya and Rahul’s recent appearance on Indian talk show ‘Koffee with Karan’, during which the former detailed how he bragged to his parents about losing his virginity, has created a storm in their homeland.

Kohli moved to distance the Indian cricket team from the controversy on Friday, saying the comments made on the show were “individual opinions”.

Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli. (Image: LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images)
Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli. (Image: LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images)

“We as the Indian cricket team and responsible cricketers don’t align with those views, those were individual opinions. We are still waiting for a decision to be made,” Kohli told reporters at the SCG.

“From the Indian cricket team point of view, any inappropriate comments that are made in that scenario are something that we definitely don’t support.

“This changes nothing in our beliefs in the change room, it does nothing to the spirit we have been able to create.”

Pandya and Rahul on the show. Image: Koffee with Karan
Pandya and Rahul on the show. Image: Koffee with Karan

Pandya said he “got a bit carried away” as he explained his bragging about his prowess with women on the show that aired Sunday.

“After reflecting on my comments on Koffee with Karan, I would like to apologise to everyone concerned who I may have hurt in any way,” Pandya said on Twitter.

“Honestly, I got a bit carried away with the nature of the show. In no way did I mean to disrespect or hurt anyone’s sentiments. Respect,” he added.

The show, hosted by Bollywood producer and director Karan Johar, encourages guests to open up on personal matters.

Pandya, who was in the squad that beat Australia for the first time in an away Test series, boasted about his success with multiple women.

“You are just watching and observing how they move as I said I am a little from the black side (influenced by West Indies culture) so I have to see how they (women) move first,” he said.

He was quickly slammed for his views on women.

“#KoffeeWithCricketers was just the worst episode. What’s up with all the #misogyny. Tired of this boys will be boys attitude,” Ekta Chauhan, a Twitter user, wrote.

“To say the least #HardikPandya is horrendous a misogynist,” added another user who called for Indian cricket authorities to take action against the “obnoxious” comments.

with agencies