Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has strongly criticized the Australian media and ex-players for their treatment of Virat Kohli during the ongoing Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The spotlight shifted to Kohli’s on-field encounter with Australian debutant Sam Konstas during the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and the subsequent backlash from Australian media and former cricketers has stirred controversy.
Pathan Defends Kohli, Calls Out Double Standards
Speaking on Star Sports, Pathan condemned the Australian media and former players for their alleged double standards, accusing them of using Kohli’s market value for their own gain. “First, they glorify him as a king, but the moment he shows aggression, they label him a joker,” Pathan remarked. He expressed frustration over the harsh criticism directed at Kohli for his shove on Konstas early on Day 1, pointing out that the Indian camp had left the matter for the match officials to handle rather than defending the action outright.
“Instead of being fair, they’re using Kohli’s market appeal to sell headlines and create controversy,” Pathan added. “We, as former cricketers, cannot accept this constant vilification of Indian players.”
Drawing Parallels to His Own Experience
Pathan drew attention to a similar incident from his own career involving Australian batter Damien Martyn during the 2004 series. Recalling the event, he said, “I dismissed Martyn and merely clapped, but he started insulting me. Yet, I was fined while he faced no consequences.” This, Pathan argued, is part of a long-standing pattern of biased treatment against visiting teams in Australia.
A Call for Fairness
Pathan concluded with a sharp rebuke of the Australian media’s conduct. “This behavior has persisted for years. Visiting teams are expected to follow all the rules, but the same standards are not upheld on their side,” he stated. He urged for a change, emphasizing that such double standards should be addressed to maintain the integrity of the game.
Pathan’s candid remarks highlight the growing tensions surrounding media narratives in high-stakes cricket series and underscore the need for fairness and accountability in global cricket.
