Instances When Indian Cricketers Had A Heated Argument With Journalists During A Press Conference

It is fair to say that Indian players are the most followers cricketers in the world. Thanks to a frenetic following in the country coupled with their on-field brilliance and the clout of the BCCI as the richest board in the world, the cricketers are hailed as ‘demi-gods’.

But, with adulation comes unrelenting expectations and scrutiny. Captaining the Indian Cricket Team is one of the toughest jobs in the world and often Indian captains lose their cool in a press conference when faced with tough questions.

Here’s a look at Instances When Indian Cricketers Had A Heated Argument With Journalists During A Press-Conference:

Virat Kohli- New Zealand Test series 2020

Virat Kohli was an angry man during the second Test against New Zealand in early 2020, which his team eventually lost by seven wickets.

During the Test match, Kohli was seen giving angry send-offs to New Zealand batsmen including Kane Williamson. During one instance, he was even seen throwing expletives at a fan.

Soon after India succumbed to a 0-2 whitewash,  Kohli was asked about his on-field behavior by a journalist During the press conference.

Needless to say, it didn’t go down with Virat as he advised the journo to do his homework and not come with a one-sided story.

This is how the conversation unfolded.

Journalist: “Virat, what’s your reaction to your behavior on the field, swearing at Williamson when he got out, swearing at the crowd. As an Indian captain, don’t you think you should set a better example on the field?”

Virat Kohli: What do you think?

Journalist: I asked you the question?

Virat Kohli: I am asking you the answer.

Journalist: You need to set better examples

Virat Kohli: You need to find out exactly what happened and come up with better questions. You can’t come here with half questions or half details of what happened. And also, if you want to create controversy, this is not the right place. I had spoken to the match referee. He had no issues with what happened. Thank You.

Virat Kohli- South Africa tour 2018

India’s overseas cycle in 2018 started on a horrendous note as it succumbed to a 1-2 series defeat against South Africa.

The continuous chopping and changing in the playing XI became the center-point of discussion after Kohli dropped vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane from the first Test before benching an in-form Bhuvneshwar Kumar from the second.

Following the defeat, when Virat was asked by a reporter as to whether the continuous chop and change in the playing 11 was hurting India.

Kohli retorted by asking the reporter about the number of Tests India have won under him

“How many Test matches have we (India) won out of 30?”

The reporter pointed out that a majority of those wins have come at home to which Virat replied-

“It doesn’t matter. Wherever we play, we try to do our best. I’m here to answer your questions man, not to fight with you.” 

After a gap, Virat pointed to the same journalist, asking-

 “How many times South Africa came close to winning games in India, can you count?” 

MS Dhoni- India vs Bangladesh, WT20 2016

MS Dhoni had just played a stellar role in India’s “come from dead” win against Bangladesh during the 2016 T20 World Cup.

However, in the press conference that followed, a journalist, alluding to India needing a win by a huge margin to improve their NRR, asked him about how satisfied he was, given the fact that the team barely managed to scrape past the finishing line.

“Before the match, we were talking about a big win so that we can improve our net run-rate but look at how we just about managed to win. How satisfied you are with such a win? And second …

A visibly and justifiably miffed Dhoni cut the reporter off and proceeded to school him.

“Just one [question] at a time. I know you aren’t happy that India won today.” said the Indian skipper in a firm tone.

(Reporter tried to clarify but Dhoni cut him off again.)

“Listen to me. Hearing you, your tone and your question, it’s clear that you aren’t happy that India has won. And when talking about a cricket match, there’s no script. It’s not about the script. You have to analyse that after losing the toss, what was the reason that we couldn’t make many runs on that wicket. If you aren’t analysing these things sitting outside, then you shouldn’t ask this question.”

Virat Kohli- England Test series 2018

Indian coach Ravi Shastri courted a major controversy during the 2018 tour of England when he said that the current team was the best Indian side in the last 10-15 years.

The fact that the Indian team ended up losing the series 1-4 despite being competitive for a major part of the rubber, Shastri’s comments were even more scrutinized by fans, media, and former cricketers like Sourav Ganguly and Sunil Gavaskar.

Kohli was asked about the same by a reporter in the wake of his sides’ 1-4 defeat, and thus started a series of rebuttals with the Indian captain visibly losing his cool.

“The Best Indian team in the last 15 years! Do these tags put pressure on you? Do you actually believe you are?” asked the reporter.

“We have to believe we are the best side. Why not?” replied Kohli with a deadpan face.

The reporter rebutted- “The best team in 15 years?”

Kohli returned the question back to which the journalist replied-“I am not sure.”

“You’re not sure? That is your opinion. Thank you,” was Kohli’s response, which ended a series of rebuttals.

MS Dhoni- 2009 T20 World Cup

Leading into the 2009 T20 World Cup, speculations in the media were rife of a possible rift between MS Dhoni and swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag.

Sehwag was injured leading into the tournament and when a reporter asked Dhoni of the absence of the former from the training session, the former Indian captain’s reply: “maybe you should ask his physio to issue a press release” propelled the media back home to cook up stories of a possible rift.

But what happened next was completely unprecedented. On the eve of India’s opening game against Bangladesh, Dhoni, in a bid to show unity in the side paraded the entire Indian squad in the press conference room where he read out a statement assuring Indian fans back home that the news of rift between him and Sehwag was a byproduct of ‘irresponsible reporting’.

Needless to say, Dhoni didn’t entertain any questions of the journalists.

“This message is for the people of India and Indian cricket fans from worldwide who care for the whole team. That’s why we are all here.

“As we prepare for the T20 World Cup, we are a unified team. The team spirit is as good as it has ever been, with each individual supporting each other both on and off the field. Recent reports in the Indian media of a rift between myself and Sehwag amount to nothing but false and irresponsible media.

“Our fans and supporters can take confidence from the wonderful unity that continues to exist in the team. We thank our fans for this continued support and look forward to entertaining you during this tournament which we go into well-prepared, unified as Team India and confident. Thank-you.”

MS Dhoni- 2015 ODI series vs Bangladesh

The 2015 ODI series between India and Bangladesh saw MS Dhoni become the first Indian skipper to lose a bilateral series against the Asian Tigers.

Following comprehensive defeats in the first two ODIs of the three-match series, skipper Dhoni was confronted with a plethora of “tough questions” in the press conference.

A visibly irritated and angry Dhoni lashed out at the media, stating that he would relinquish the leadership duties if it means that Indian cricket will start doing well automatically.

“If it is justified that you remove me and Indian cricket will start doing well then definitely I would love to step aside and play as just a player. Ultimately, it is most important for India to win and not who is leading them to the win,” said MS Dhoni.

Dhoni further stated that he is always the one who gets all the blame for everything that is wrong with Indian cricket.

”I’m always the one blamed for everything wrong with Indian cricket. Maybe it is all because of me that everything is happening. If you play long enough you see the good and bad days on the field. But I am really enjoying (cricket),” Dhoni said.

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