Melbourne: The Australian media on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Virat Kohli, labelling the India captain as “classless” and “egomaniac” following his no-longer-friends comment at the end of a spiteful Test series.
Australian newspapers came hard on Kohli for declaring that he no longer considers Australian players as friends after what happened in the four-match rubber, which was marred by acrimony between players of both sides.
The Australian media also took a jibe at Kohli after India reportedly snubbed the visitors’ invitation for a beer at the end of the series which the hosts won 2-1 to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“Kohli had to shake hands and move on after series win but he acted like a child,” read a headline in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph, which also called Kohli an “egomaniac”.
“Beergate: Kohli’s latest classless act,” another headline read.
Peter Lalor of The Australian newspaper added: “If there were any doubts about the poor spirit between the Indian and Australian sides it was confirmed after the series when the home side shunned a suggestion the two sides drink together.”
They also compared Kohli’s behaviour with Steve Smith, who apologised for letting his “emotions slip” during the aggressively-contested series.
