Team India denies row with South African broadcasters over Virat Kohli clip
Team India management were reportedly irked by the rerun of Kohli copping a short-pitched delivery in the ribs on a lively South African pitch on television.
The Indian team on Thursday found itself in an awkward situation after a media report claimed that the visitors allegedly had a row with the official broadcasters of their South African tour for showing "irrelevant" footage during the third ODI at Centurion.
The Indian team management though quickly denied the report.
A report appeared in one of the leading cricket portals, in which Neil Manthorp, a cricket writer based in Cape Town, wrote about an incident that occurred during the abandoned third ODI at Centurion on Wednesday.
"During the third game in Centurion they were offended by the host broadcaster Supersport's editorial decision to replay the footage of Virat Kohli being struck in the ribs during the series opener at the Wanderers," he wrote.
"Supersport's director was summoned to the Indian changing room during the innings interval and an explanation demanded. His argument for 'editorial relevance' was countered with angry accusations of 'inappropriate behaviour', disrespect, and a suggestion that he 'sticks to cricket' in future," the report said.
"His observation that batsmen being hit in the ribs was in fact part of cricket was not well received. Batting was not just about fours and sixes, he said," the report added.
The Indian team denied any incident of this sort.
"We did meet the producer of Supersport, but it was for discussing something else and not about the clip shown of Virat Kohli," said media manager R N Baba during the team's practice session ahead of the two-day tour game against South Africa Invitational XI in Benoni.
When pressed to spell out what the Indian team discussed with the producer of Supersport, if not the Kohli clip, that information was not forthcoming.