Amit Mishra is facing backlash from fans of Virat Kohli following his recent comments about the star cricketer on a YouTube show. Mishra expressed his views on Kohli during a conversation with Shubankar on the show titled ‘Unplugged’.

"I've witnessed Virat undergo significant changes. Our conversations nearly ceased. When someone achieves fame and power, they often suspect others have ulterior motives for reaching out. I was never one of those people. I've known Cheeku since he was 14, when he used to enjoy samosas and insisted on having pizza every night. However, there's a stark contrast between the Cheeku I knew then and Virat Kohli the cricketer now. Whenever we meet, he treats me with great respect, but it's clear that things aren't the same as they once were,” the veteran spinner said on the show.

During the conversation, Mishra also recalled instances of Kohli's alleged verbal abuse towards his Lucknow Super Giants teammates during IPL 2023.

In response to Mishra's accusations against Kohli, the latter’s fans are now widely circulating an old video clip of Kohli speaking at a press conference in Australia back in 2014. In the video, a young Kohli can be seen telling Australian media personnel that he was “in the country to play cricket and not to earn anyone’s respect!”

While sharing this particular video clip to criticise Mishra, Kohli’s fans also highlighted that he maintains strong bonds with several Delhi players, including senior pacer Ishant Sharma.

Nearly a decade ago, during overseas series, Kohli frequently found himself targeted by Australians, particularly Mitchell Johnson, with whom he engaged in numerous verbal altercations on the field.

When questioned about his verbal exchanges during a press conference, especially concerning the concept of 'respect', Kohli reiterated his stance that his primary focus is on playing cricket, not seeking validation from others.

"I am here to play cricket, not to earn anyone's respect. As long as I am scoring runs, I'm satisfied. If people appreciate it, that's good," he emphasised.

Regarding mutual respect in cricket, Kohli underscored that he does not concern himself with others' opinions about respecting him or vice versa. While he values friendships with some players, he does not hold respect for those who speak thoughtlessly.

Kohli, a globally followed sports figure, continues to enjoy unwavering support from his fans, who regard him not only as a cricketing icon but also as more than that. Agencies

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