Indian superstar Virat Kohli opens up on Sandpapergate and controversial Smith, Warner bans

Indian superstar Virat Kohli has opened up on the Sandpapergate scandal which rattled Australian cricket, revealing how the saga has brought him closer to long-time rival David Warner.

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Virat Kohli has revealed he was shocked by the treatment of Australia’s ball tampering trio and has pointedly maintained contact with David Warner during his year in exile.

In a wide-ranging interview with Adam Gilchrist on Fox Sports, India’s hot-blooded captain said he was chastened and saddened by the hostile reaction to Steve Smith, Warner and Cameron Bancroft after they were banned for ball tampering on the South African tour.

The interview will be shown in part in Saturday’s lunch break of the third Test between Australia and India and in full after play on Sunday night.

David Warner arrives home from the Sandpapergate scandal with his wife Candice and their children. Picture: Damian Hoffman

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Kohli and Warner went at each other all summer last time the tourists visited here but Kohli has revealed, despite the on field friction which extended into Australia’s tour of India last year, they have become closer.

“What happened after (Cape Town) … I felt very bad,’’ Kohli said.

“The things that happened afterwards 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. I would never want to experience that as a cricketer.

Former Australian captain Steve Smith is shuffled through the airport in Johannesburg. Picture: AFP

“I have known David and Steve and apart from the battles you have on the field you never want to see something of that magnitude happen to two sportsmen.

“It was sad to see to be honest. As bigger thing as it became you never want to see anyone go through that.

“After that event I have always been in touch with David. Me and him get along very well. He has been very kind to me.’’

Australia's captain Steve Smith (L) and India's captain Virat Kohli had a fierce on-field rivalry. Picture: AFP

Kohli has been regarded as a volatile, instinctive cricketer with an eye for trouble but he feels he has matured and is not proud of his early behaviour.

“I am massively different from the first two tours (of Australia), especially the first when I was so bad.

“I did not have a good understanding of where to draw the line. Those are things I would not say I regret but things I look at as mistakes but that were important for me to commit so I could learn from them.

“I was never a perfect or typical old school cricketer. I just wanted to find my own way.

“My competitiveness comes from playing in Delhi in the junior levels. You had to outperform everyone else and make sure you were doing something special to come up the ranks.

“I just wanted to make a mark so badly because I loved the sport so much. I just kept pushing myself further.’’

Virat Kohli (R) is one of the most passionate competitors in cricket. Picture: AFP

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In the Indian dressing room Kolhi is regarded as a man who does not tolerate excuses and will admit to playing rubbish shots.

This accountability traces back to his late father Prem, a lawyer, who was not interested in short cuts.

“There were are few occasions when people tried to use favours to get me into a squad. He said “no.’’ If he can make it on his own ability good, otherwise he is not good enough and should not continue.

“That is the attitude I have always played with. I have never looked for excuses.’’

Kohli has vivid memories of his father’s death from a heart attack but his nerve as a cricketer was so strong he made 90 in a Ranji Trophy game just 12 hours after his father passed away.

“I was 40 not out overnight. My father had had a stroke a few weeks before that game. That morning he had a cardiac arrest at 2am and it was a shock all over. That morning I had to go and play. My family told me not to play. The thought that pushed me forward was that my father would have wanted me to play. He was passionate about the game.’’

”I have never looked for excuses” — there are no shortcuts in Kohli’s world. Picture: Getty

In a rare moment of introspection into his private life Kohli credits his wife, Bollywood actress and film producer Anuhka Sharma, for making him a more worldly, better rounded person.

“When I met my wife I began to change. I came from a very different background from north India and I had no idea of what happened in any other sphere of society or anyone else’s life.

“Her life was very different. It came with her own challenges and perspective on things. It was amazing to just see how much different things were to the way I think. I was not a very practical person before that. She has changed me a lot. I have learnt so much from here.

“She has helped me a lot.’’

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