Former Australia cricketer apologizes to Virat Kohli for calling him 'arrogant' during BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Former Australia cricketer Kerry O'Keefe has apologized to Team India ace batter Virat Kohli after calling him 'arrogant' on-air during the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is hosting the fourth Test of the five-match series.

Following Kohli's incident of bumping into Australian debutant Sam Konstas on Day 1 (Thursday, December 26), O'Keefe had commented on-air that Kohli had 'built his whole career on arrogance.' He had said (via Hindustan Times):

"Kohli has built his whole career on arrogance. Suddenly, he identified that in a debutant and seemed to resent it."

The 75-year-old apologized for his comments while commentating on Day 2 (Friday, December 27), saying:

"I want to apologize for calling Virat Kohli's behaviour arrogance. I shouldn't have said that. He has got a swagger and plays his cricket like that. I think when he saw another player showing swagger like him, he got a bit annoyed and reacted in that fashion. Kohli is a passionate cricketer and his aggression is what makes him a competitive cricketer."

Kohli was charged for his shoulder bump by the ICC, with the world body for the sport charging him 20% of his match fees and handing the batter one demerit point.

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Team India down to four wickets in their aim of eclipsing the first-innings lead in BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Batting first, Australia posted 474, thanks to a fine ton from Steve Smith (140 off 197), followed by half-centuries from Sam Konstas (60), Usman Khawaja (57), and Marnus Labuschagne (72). For India, Jasprit Bumrah returned with 4/99 to his name.

India lost Rohit Sharma (three runs off five balls) early in their first essay. KL Rahul (24 off 43), Virat Kohli (36 off 88), and Yashasvi Jaiswal (82 off 118) have chipped in but have also been dismissed. Team India need to win this game to keep their hopes of a third WTC final appearance alive.