IPL 2017: Former Australian cricketer and Gujarat Lions’ head coach Brad Hodge has issued a public apology for his controversial remarks against Virat Kohli.
Brad Hodge had questioned Virat Kohli’s sportsmanship by saying: “Because if you miss one game of Test match cricket and you’re fronting up the next week for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) 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.”
These remarks sparked a big controversy as Indian cricket fans, led by Gautam Gambhir and Amitabh Bachchan criticised Brad Hodge for his uninformed remarks against Virat Kohli.
But, on Friday, Brad Hodge took to his Twitter handle to issue the apology for his comments on Kohli, stating that he never intended to cause any harm or criticise anyone and he only meant those words in a light-hearted sense.
As a professional sportsperson who has represented his country, I certainly understand what it means to step out on a cricket field donning your nation’s colours. It is the highest honour a sportsperson can ask for.
Keeping that in mind, 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. My intension was never to harm, criticize or be derogatory towards 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 & fans have every right to be upset, and the backlash I have received has certainly driven the point home.
Again I am deeply apologetic to the country which has bought me so ,ugh joy and its inspirational leader in Virat Kohli, to whom I mean no ill-intention & respect highly as a professional.
Regards,
Brad Hodge
— Brad Hodge (@bradhodge007) March 29, 2017
