Kohli takes a U-turn on 'friendship' with Australian cricketers

Photo: AP New Delhi: Taking a U-turn on his friendship comment with Australian team, India captain Virat Kohli claimed it was "blown out of proportion" and he continues to be on good terms with a few cricketers from Down Under. The flamboyant captain, in a series of tweets, clarified that his comment was not meant for the entire Australian team.

1/2 My answer at the post match conference has been blown way out of proportion. I did not categorically say the whole Australian team but

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) March 30, 2017

2/2only a couple of individuals.I continue to be in good terms with the few guys I know & who I've played with at RCB & that doesn't change. — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) March 30, 2017

Kohli had taken a strong stance against Australian cricketers after defeating them in a hard-fought series by saying that his feelings after the series has changed towards the Aussie cricketers. "No, it has changed for sure. I thought that was the case but it has changed for sure. As I said in the heat of the battle, you want to be competitive but yeah I have been proven wrong. The thing I said before the first Test, I have certainly been proven wrong and you won't hear me say that ever again," Kohli had said. The series was mired in controversies with one following another. It all started when Australian captain Steve Smith took dressing room help in taking a DRS call and Kohli stopped short of calling him a cheat. Kohli was also attacked by the rival players and Australian media, which likened him to US President Donald Trump. Cricket Australia also jumped into the controversy when its CEO James Sutherland said Kohli perhaps does not know how to spell the word sorry. The fireworks continued till the final Test, in which Ravindra Jadeja and Matthew Wade were involved in a verbal duel and Smith was heard using a cuss word against Murali Vijay for claiming a catch that was deemed not clean.