If conscience is clear, no harm in standing by what I feel is right, says skipper Virat Kohli

Unaffected after facing series of verbal attacks from Australian media, skipper Virat Kohli said that if his conscience is clear, there is no harm in standing by what he feels is right.

A section of the Australian media had taken on the Indian captain on behalf of its cricket team, with wide ranging comments from “leader of snakes” to comparing him to the US President Donald Trump. All these for his critical comments about Steve Smith, DRS, Brain Fade and later allegations of Australian fielders making fun of India physio Patrick Farhart.

Asked about how he has been able to manage the roller coaster ride of emotions, Kohli’s reply was matter of fact but with a tinge of sarcasm in it.

“I have always stuck by the right things. Always done the right thing, always said what I wanted to because I feel it is right. I have no regrets about it. I have nothing to go back and change. The only thing—I am surprised so many people are getting affected by just one individual, so good luck to them. If it’s selling their news, good luck to them,” Kohli said without referring to a section of Australian media and former players, who have been relentlessly critical of him.

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For Kohli, what matters most is what his teammates think of him.

“It’s something that’s happening on the outside (world).  What I try to do is look inside as to what are the things I need to improve on as a cricketer and as a person, what my teammates and close people think of me. These things (criticism) do not matter to me so much. They have never mattered. I have faced this initially in my career, I have faced this many times before.”

Asked about former Australia captain Michael Clarke coming out in his support, Kohli said that cricketers in general are empathetic towards their own breed.

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“See as cricketers, you understand exactly what goes on - during a series, in the game, on the field. I am sure those guys can relate to it. Everyone’s doing their jobs. If they (Australian media) want to write something good or bad, it’s your own personal choice. I am not going to sit here and say write good things about me or bad things about me. It’s your own choice. Everyone has their own conscience to sleep with at night and same applies for everyone,” the skipper said.