‘Respect My Privacy’: Virat Kohli Stops Photographer from Taking Family Photos

Indian cricket star Virat Kohli was involved in an argument with a female Australian journalist at Melbourne airport on Thursday, December 19. Kohli had just arrived in Melbourne with his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, and their children. A journalist from Channel 7 filmed the family, which upset Kohli. He went up to the journalist, asking to see the photos and videos taken. Kohli then requested that she delete any pictures or videos of his family but allowed her to keep any footage of him alone.

Under Australian law, there is no rule against taking pictures or filming celebrities in public places, which probably complicated the matter. At the airport, Kohli told the media, "With my kids, I need some privacy. You can't film without asking me."

This is the second incident when Kohli requested the paparazzi to not click pictures of his family members. The first such request he made was when he was leaving for Australia before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from the Mumbai airport.

Virat Kohli had a confrontation with the Australian media in Melbourne after they were taking pictures of his family without permission. pic.twitter.com/SCPktXtrlU

— RCBIANS OFFICIAL (@RcbianOfficial) December 19, 2024

Kohli Hoping to Bounce Back in Melbourne After Tough Run in Australian Tests

Virat Kohli is not traveling along with other members of the Indian team to Melbourne from Brisbane for the fourth Test, commencing from December 26 at Melbourne. Kohli and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah have been traveling separately with families across cities in Australia. Before the third Test that finished on Wednesday, the two shared a chartered flight from Adelaide to Brisbane.

Kohli has not been too great with the bat in this much-talked-about Test series. Though he made a century in the second innings of the series opener in Perth, he has failed miserably in the first three Tests. Kohli has scored only 126 runs in six innings at an average of 30. Other than the hundred, his scores have been disappointing, with just 26 runs across five innings.

One of the key struggles Kohli has been his temptation to play at deliveries wide outside off-stump, a ploy Australia has used well to his discomfort.

Kohli will be looking to get back to his best in Melbourne. India will need their star batter to come out and perform in this tightly contested series. Having managed to hold off Australia for a draw in the third Test at the Gabba due to wet weather, India will draw confidence from their strong record in Melbourne, having won the last two Boxing Day Tests and drawn one in 2014.

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