Kohli on Pandya in Koffee With Karan: “Inappropriate comments are individual views”

Kohli on Pandya in Koffee With Karan: The Indian captain was vocal about the all-rounder’s inappropriate comments on the talk show.

India captain Virat Kohli was clear in his words when he mentioned that the Indian team doesn’t support ‘inappropriate comments’ from all-rounder Hardik Pandya on the talk show ‘Koffee With Karan’.

Pandya and opening batsman Lokesh Rahul have come under intense scrutiny after their misogynistic comments on the talk show. With the former’s words clearly depicting his disrespect for women, he was issued a show cause notice from the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India).

On being asked about the same, Kohli said that the Indian team doesn’t support such comments. “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 and the two concerned players felt what has gone wrong and they have understood the magnitude of what’s happened,” Kohli was quoted as saying ahead of the first ODI against Australia.

“Definitely it has to hit anyone hard, they will definitely understand the things that have not gone right. We, definitely, as the Indian cricket team do not support views like that and that has been communicated. I can definitely say that as the Indian cricket team and responsible cricketers we definitely don’t align with those views and those are purely individual views,” Kohli further said.

Kohli also mentioned that the incident will not dampen the spirit of the Indian team in the dressing room. “We are still waiting for a decision to be made but from the Indian cricket team point of view this changes nothing in terms of our beliefs in the change room. It does nothing to the spirit that we’ve been able to create within the change room and these are purely individual opinions and something as I said which is inappropriate,” the Indian captain added.

Despite Pandya’s reply to the show cause notice, there have been reports of him and Rahul getting individual suspensions. With no confirmed decision coming as of now on the availability of the pair, there are apprehensions whether they will be eligible for the first ODI or not.

Kohli was aware of the same as he said that the team management will look at the possible combination. “From the combination and team balance point of view, yes, you’ll have to think about the combination you’ll need now.

“You don’t have control over these things so you have to address it the way it unfolds. That’s how we are looking at it, the combinations will have to be looked at when the decision comes out and from there on we’ll see what needs to be done about the whole situation,” Kohli concluded.