This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Brad Hodge apologises for his comments over Virat Kohli
Hodge came under fire on the subcontinent for his conjecture about Kohli's injury-enforced withdrawal from the deciding fourth Test against Australia, which ended on Tuesday.
Written by Agence France-Presse
Published: Mar 30, 2017, 08:47 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 30, 2017, 08:47 AM (IST)


Former Australian international Brad Hodge Thursday apologised over suggestions firebrand Indian captain Virat Kohli pulled out of a Test match to save himself for the Indian Premier League (IPL). Hodge came under fire on the subcontinent for his conjecture about Kohli’s injury-enforced withdrawal from the deciding fourth Test against Australia, which ended on Tuesday.”You’d hope as a sportsman that he’s seriously injured,” he told Fox Sports on Sunday.”Because if you miss one game of Test match cricket and you’re fronting up the next week for RCB (Royal Challengers Bangalore) versus whoever… you’d be pretty dirty if he didn’t front up to a Test match and try and win a valuable series against Australia.” FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs Australia, 4th Test at Dharamsala
— Brad Hodge (@bradhodge007) March 29, 2017
Hodge is due to coach the Gujarat Lions in the IPL, starting April 5, and has been rattled by the backlash, issuing a long apology.”I take this opportunity to apologise to the people of India, cricket fans, the Indian national cricket team and particularly Virat Kohli for my previous comments,” he posted to Twitter. “My intention was never to harm, criticise or be derogatory toward anyone. They were intended to be light-hearted comments with the utmost respect to the Indian Premier League which I have thoroughly enjoyed through the years.”The public and fans have every right to be upset, and the backlash I have received has certainly driven this home.”IPL 2017: It is time Kohli scripts the victory lap for RCB
He said that he respected Kohli and meant no “ill intention”.Kohli, captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore, hurt his right shoulder while diving to stop a boundary during the drawn third Test against Australia in Ranchi. He sat out the fourth and final Test in Dharamsala which India won by eight wickets to seal the series 2-1. The 28-year-old said this week his shoulder was taking time to heal because it was not a simple stress injury but an impact injury.
TRENDING NOW
Australia’s Glenn Maxwell was also at the centre of controversy over Kohli’s injury when he grabbed his shoulder in parody and grinned at his team-mates after making a similar stop later in the third Test.