Sourav Ganguly says that Virat Kohli should let go the India Vs Australia controversies

While the much anticipated India Vs Australia Border-Gavaskar Trophy has ended, with the hosts reclaiming the prestigious trophy, the off-field matters haven’t settled just yet. After losing the series to India, captain Steve Smith had an apology to give. In the post-match conference, he admitted to the fact that his emotions got the better of him throughout the volatile series, and apologized for that.

But his counterpart Virat Kohli’s annoyance with their behavior has not ended. When an Australian journalist asked Kohli if he still considered the Aussies his friends, which the Indian skipper had said before the start of the series, the 28-year-old blatantly made it clear that never again would anyone hear him (Kohli) addressing the Australian cricketers as his friends.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, however, feels that its time Virat buries the matters of the series and moves on. But he also said that Australian media and former players went overboard with their words against Kohli.

“I am sure he will loosen up with time. He should forget what happens with the Australian players on the ground (sledging). That is competitiveness. But what happens with media and ex-players getting into sledging the opposition captain wasn’t right. It is not their job,” Ganguly was quoted by India Today.

“I don’t consider there was bad blood. I consider there was competition. Both Virat and Smith should be happy they could put up a show. Both boards and players should get over it,” Ganguly added.

It is indeed time for not just Kohli but everyone in India to move on and welcome the tenth edition of the Indian Premier League. Virat will be captaining the Royal Challengers Bangalore, but in all likeliness will have to sit out for the first few games owing to the shoulder injury he suffered in the Ranchi Test.