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Former cricketers criticise Virat Kohli for his no-longer-friends comment, ask him to grow 'bigger'

Mark Taylor has denounced India skipper Virat Kohli's comments that the spiteful Test series has ended his friendship with the Australians.

New Delhi, March 29: Legendary Australia batsman Mark Taylor and several other veteran cricketers have denounced India skipper Virat Kohli's comments that the spiteful Test series has ended his friendship with the Australians.

Friendship with Australians has 'changed': Kohli</a>; </strong><strong><a href=4th Test report " title="Friendship with Australians has 'changed': Kohli; 4th Test report " />Friendship with Australians has 'changed': Kohli; 4th Test report

Taylor has adviced the India captain to not hold any grudges since it's just a game in the end and grow "bigger". (I am disappointed with BCCI: Smith)

Former cricketers criticise Virat Kohli for his no-longer-friends comment, ask him to grow 'bigger'

Soon after claiming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with win in Dharamsala Test, Kohli declared that he no longer enjoys friendship with the Australians. The comments, however, did not go down well with Taylor.

"Cricketers play together a lot these days, both with and against each other, so you've got to be very careful about holding grudges and making stances like that," Taylor wrote in his blog for Wide World of Sports.

(Am 'great friends' with Australians: Kohli)

"I always tried to catch up with the opposition after a match. There are series where you're disappointed because things didn't go your way, or you're delighted because things did go your way, but you have to be bigger than that.

"You have to say, 'Well, irrespective of my own performance and that of my team I've got to go and put my face in there and say thanks for the contest.'

(Kohli fumes as Smith tries to cheat)

"At the end of the day it's become a fully professional game with quite a bit at stake, but it's still just a game and I think that's what people have got to remember," he added.

Australia coach Darren Lehmann also said he is disappointed with India captain's remarks.

When asked about Kohli's comment in a pre-departure media interaction, Lehmann said, "Disappointing but that's his opinion isn't it?"

(Maxwell makes fun of Kohli's injury)

On whether he thought that the rest of the Indian team had sentiments similar to Kohli, Lehmann replied in the negative.

"No, I don't think the Indian team (feels that), I too was very impressed with (Ajinkya) Rahane's captaincy. I thought he was brilliant," Lehmann said.

Former Australia batsman Dean Jones and ex-England cricketer David Lloyd also questioned the wisdom of Kohli's comments.

"Virat will learn that this great game is not just about winning and losing. It's also about the friends you make while playing the game," Jones wrote on his twitter handle.

Lloyd asked Kohli to take some lessons from Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar on how to conduct himself on and off the field.

(Kohli to miss start of IPL 2017)

"This lad certainly has a lot to say ...maybe should sit and LISTEN to S Tendulkar," Lloyd tweeted.

Kohli, in the post match press conference in Dharamsala said he no longer considers Australian cricketers his friends after being targetted both on and off the field by them in a fiercely-fought Test series that India won by 2-1.

Ahead of the 4-Test rubber against Australia, Indian captain Virat Kohli had spoken about his "good friends" in the opposition camp but after a hard-fought, fiery series he has changed his opinion about the cordial relationships with Steve Smith and company.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from agencies)

Story first published: Thursday, August 3, 2017, 7:45 [IST]
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