Team doesn’t endorse Pandya’s views: Kohli

Sydney, January 11 

Comments made by India players Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul that have been widely condemned as sexist were “inappropriate” and not supported by their teammates, captain Virat Kohli said on Friday. Rahul and all-rounder Pandya have been heavily criticised in India and on social media for comments made on a television show earlier this week. “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,” Kohli said on Friday.

“The two concerned players felt what has gone wrong and they have understood the magnitude. It has to hit anyone hard, they will definitely understand the things that have not gone right.

“These are purely individual opinions ... we definitely, as the Indian cricket team, do not support views like that and that has been communicated.” 

Kohli said the side would adapt if the pair was ruled out of the three-match series. “From the combination and team balance point of view, yes, you’ll have to think about the combination you’ll need now,” Kohli said.

“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.

Kohli’s side enter the ODI series on a high, having sealed their first Test series victory in Australia earlier this week. “Definitely not going to dampen anything that we’ve achieved,” he said. “You have to adjust with the situation. We need to go out there and play cricket. All these external factors are not going to derail our motivation or the preparation for the World Cup.” — Reuters