- Tony Jones has labelled Indian star Virat Kohli a ‘bully’
- Kohli was involved in a confrontation with reporters
- Tensions mount ahead of the crucial Boxing Day Test
Channel Nine sport newsreader Tony Jones has slammed Virat Kohli, calling him ‘nothing but a bully’ after the Indian legend was involved in a tense altercation with reporters at Melbourne airport.
On Saturday, Kohli, 36, lashed out at camera crews outside the arrivals lounge at Melbourne airport as he arrived for the Boxing Day Test.
Turning to one film crew, he indicated that he objected to cameras directed at his family.
‘With my kids I need some privacy, you can’t film without asking me,’ the former India captain was overheard saying.
Explaining the situation further, 7News reporter Theo Doropoulos said: ‘It was upon seeing the waiting cameras that Kohli became a little heated over what is largely a misunderstanding when he thought the media was filming him with his children.’
Both Channel 7 and Channel 9 have said that at no stage were Kohli’s children filmed during the family’s arrival.
Tony Jones has weighed in on Virat Kohli’s confrontation with the media at Melbourne Airport
Virat Kohli was involved in a heated altercation with reporters after he arrived in Melbourne
Jones, whose colleague Nat Yoannidis was at the airport, objected to the behaviour of the Indian superstar.
‘It was a pretty unsavoury incident I’ve got to say,’ Jones said on 3AW.
‘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.
‘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.’
Tensions continue to rise between the touring Indian cricket team and journalists
It comes as tensions continue to rise between the Indian team and Aussie media ahead of the crucial Boxing Day Test.
On Saturday, the Indian side faced reporters at the MCG following the drawn third Test at the Gabba that has left the Border-Gavaskar series deadlocked at 1-1.
Australian reporters were left confused when star allrounder Ravindra Jadeja only spoke in Hindi to the Indian media, leaving local media frustrated.
Journalists were heard asking if they could get an answer in English as the press conference was wrapped up after just nine minutes.
Later, the Indian media team stated that the press conference was only for the travelling Indian media – despite the Aussie reporters claiming that they were also invited.
