Virat Kohli sympathises with Steve Smith and David Warner

Kohli also mentioned that he has been in contact with Warner since the controversy took place.

Several experts besides the fans have been optimistic about an Indian win in the ongoing Test series Down Under, the first time ever since 1947-48 when the Asians first toured Australia. One of the primary reasons is the absence of two of Australia’s premier batsmen in the series in the forms of Steve Smith and David Warner as they, along with Cameron Bancroft, are serving bans in relation to a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa earlier this year that left Australian cricket badly hurt.

However, Indian captain Virat Kohli was at his sportsmanship’s best recently saying incidents like those were never desirable and that he particularly felt bad the way the trio was treated at the airport on their return home. The 30-year-old expressed his views on the dark incident during an interview to former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.

“What happened after … I felt very bad. The things that happened afterward should not have happened. The things that hit me the hardest was the way they were received at the airports and escorted out. It is not my place to comment on the decisions. But to treat people like that for me it was unpleasant to see,” Kohli was quoted as saying in an exclusive chat with Fox Sports.

Kohli was saddened to see the treatment Smith and Warner got

Adding that any sportsman experiencing such an outcome is painful, Kohli said he has known Smith and Warner and except in battles on the ground, no one would want such outcomes unfolding for any sporting personality. “It was sad to see, to be honest. As big a thing as it became, you never want to see anyone go through that,” the ace Indian batsman added.

He also said that he has been in contact with Warner since the controversy took place and added: “…me and him get along very well, he has been very kind to me.” While Smith and Warner were handed over bans of one year each, Bancroft was punished for nine months.

Australia have struggled in their assignments ever since the big two were barred from playing on international stage. Their batting has looked vulnerable of late, including in the first innings of the ongoing Adelaide Test against a spirited Indian bowling attack. Smith was in a murderous mood the last time India toured Australia in 2014-15, amassing over 760 runs in four Tests.

Here is the video of Virat Kohli talking about Smith and Warner: