Dharamsala, March 28: 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. (I am disappointed with BCCI: Smith)
Am 'great friends' with Australians: Kohli; 4th Test report
Today (March 28), India defeated Australia by 8 wickets at Dharamsala's HPCA Stadium to claim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 2-1 verdict. (Kohli fumes as Smith tries to cheat)
The series had its share of controversies involving the Decision Review System (DRS) and also with players engaging in verbal battles on the field. (Maxwell makes fun of Kohli's injury)
Before the start of the series, Kohli had said he had friends in the Australian camp but that would only be off the field. (Kohli to miss start of IPL 2017)
"I am really good friends with them (Australians). I know them really well off the field. But I know where to draw the line of friendship as well," the 28-year-old Kohli had said in February.
Well then 😳#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/xciqRDoma8
— cricket.com.au Video (@CricketVideo) March 28, 2017
But Kohli had said even if it was his real brother on the field, he would be a professional and compete hard, setting relationships aside.
"When you step onto the field, I could be playing against my real brother it does not matter. So it's fine, if they had to criticise me, I would have been okay with it, it's not something coming out of my mouth. So I have no control over it. I am pretty focused and aware of what I need to do as a player on the field and what my team needs to do to win Test matches and series.
"I don't know the reason behind it (Australians praising him), there might not be any reason, I am not here to speculate. But I can say I am really great friends with these guys off the field, we really get along well. On the field we are professional enough to realise that it's a competition but off the field we are comfortable with each other," Kohli had said.
With the series completed on Tuesday, Kohli, in the post-match press conference, was asked about his equations with Australian cricketers and he did not mince his words, saying it had changed forever.
"No. It (relationship with Australians) has changed for sure. I thought that was the case (friendship). But it has changed for sure. As I said, in the heat of the battle, yes, you want to be competitive. But I have been proven wrong. The thing I said before the first Test that has certainly changed. You won't hear me say that ever again," Kohli, who missed the 4th Test in Dharamsala due to shoulder injury, said.
Kohli's shoulder injury was mocked by Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell in the 3rd Test in Ranchi. Smith had accused of Kohli of telling lies after the Indian had said his Australian counterpart had, more than once, sought help from the dressing room for DRS.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has brought world cricketers closer. The 10th edition of the league begins in Hyderabad on April 5 with Kohli leading Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
Australia's Shane Watson and Travis Head are part of RCB squad. Captain Steve Smith will lead Rising Pune Supergiant which includes Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin and others.
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