India cricket sensation Virat Kohli has been involved in a tense altercation with reporters at Melbourne airport.
Kohli was arriving in the city alongside several members of his family ahead of the Boxing Day Test next week but the 36-year-old appeared to take exception with camera crews outside the arrivals lounge.
Turning to one film crew, he revealed that he had been incensed by the presence of cameras directed at his family.
‘With my kids I need some privacy, you can’t film without asking me,’ the former India captain was overheard saying.
Explaining the situation further, 7News reporter Theo Doropoulos said: ‘It was upon seeing the waiting cameras that Kohli became a little heated over what is largely a misunderstanding when he thought the media was filming him with his children.’
Both Channel 7 and Channel 9 have said that at no stage were Kohli’s children filmed during the family’s arrival.
After turning away from the cameras, he returned to speak with reporters to clear the air. He was overheard saying: ‘If I’m alone, it’s OK. Did you ask?’
It is understood that film crews had been at the airport to film Victorian pace bowler Scott Boland but had seen Kohli and his family also leaving the airport.
The India batter, who has more than 270million Instagram followers, is one of the world’s most popular sports stars. In the past, he has endeavoured to keep his family out of the public eye.
More to follow…