Kohli at the press conference.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli today distanced himself and the Indian cricket team from the controversy surrounding Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul's appearance on the talk show 'Koffee with Karan' saying that what the duo said were their own views and the team doesn't align itself with the same.
At a press conference held on the eve of the first ODI against Australia in Sydney, Kohli said: "We as the Indian cricket team and responsible cricketers don't align with those views, those were individual opinions. We are still waiting for a decision to be made."
While on one hand, Pandya had apologised via e-mail and social media platforms for his offensive comments, the BCCI CoA chairman Vinod Rai has recommended a two-ODI ban for the cricketers. This might impact the Indian team's combination for the upcoming ODIs against Australia. Kohli knows this and said that they are waiting for a final decision in the matter before announcing their playing XI.
"From the Indian cricket team's point of view, this changes nothing in our beliefs in the change room, it does nothing to the spirit we have have been able to create. Combinations will have to be thought of once the decision comes out," Kohli said.
"Definitely it has to hit anyone hard, they will definitely understand the things that have not gone right. From the combination and team balance point of view, yes, you'll have to think about the combination you'll need now," Kohli said.
"You don't have control over these things so you have to address it the way it unfolds. That's how we are looking at it, the combinations will have to be looked at when the decision comes out and from there on we'll see what needs to be done about the whole situation," he signed off.
On the show, Pandya boasted about hooking up with multiple women and also how open he has been about it with his parents.
India are scheduled to play a three-match ODI series against Australia from Saturday.
Rahul, the more restrained of the two in the show, has not yet reacted to the social media storm. The two players were given 24 hours to explain themselves by the BCCI.
