Harsha Bhogle has hit out at an Indian news agency for “selectively edited reporting” after a clip of him seemingly criticising Virat Kohli‘s T20 approach went viral.

A video clip posted by PTI, considered India’s largest news agency, shows Bhogle at an event speaking about Kohli’s batting style in T20s, suggesting that, after a point, “it might actually be in the interest of the team” that he gets dismissed in a match, making way for a more aggressive batter.

“Virat Kohli is a great example. Virat Kohli is playing Test cricket for India. He is not supposed to get out,” Bhogle said.

This is an example of what I was talking about with social media. The video is cropped just before the point where I say that Virat is capable of playing across situations but that I was only highlighting how even the greatest players have to keep adjusting demands and… https://t.co/bfJCdem08e

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 19, 2024

“Now, he goes to play for RCB, for India; beyond a certain point, it might actually been the interest of the side for him to get out. How do you reconcile to the fact that I am one of the greatest that’s played the game but actually at this stage, it’s in the team’s interest that I get out because the person who is coming in will probably hit 20 off six balls?

He adds “Virat Kohli is an extreme example. It may…” before the video abruptly ends.

The clip drew the ire of fans, who questioned Bhogle’s stance in the comments of the post.

Just hours later, Bhogle put out a tweet hitting back at PTI’s clip, claiming it had been selectively edited.

“This is an example of what I was talking about with social media,” Bhogle wrote. “The video is cropped just before the point where I say that Virat is capable of playing across situations but that I was only highlighting how even the greatest players have to keep adjusting demands and priorities.

“Come on @PTI_News I am sure you can do better. With selectively edited reporting, nobody will be able to articulate thoughts again. Can you put out the whole clip please?”

If even @PTI_News succumbs to irresponsible click bait media, what chance does our profession have? Extremely disappointed. I hope the head of @PTI_News news is too. Come on, let us maintain the fairness of our profession.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 19, 2024

In a subsequent tweet, he took further shots at the news agency for being “irresponsible click bait [sic] media”.

“If even @PTI_News succumbs to irresponsible click bait [sic] media, what chance does our profession have?,” Bhogle wrote. “Extremely disappointed. I hope the head of @PTI_News news is too. Come on, let us maintain the fairness of our profession.”

Later, he posted another tweet with an extended version of the clip, where he says: “Virat Kohli is an extreme example. It might not actually be appropriate because he has the skills to play across situations…”

Now this is how a malicious edit can be done. The clip that @PTI_News posted was cut at 0:41 on this edit. The next 6 seconds were kept out to change the meaning. This is the problem with clickbait journalism. The context here is that this is part of a larger discussion in an HR… pic.twitter.com/EKVLw7NhB4

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 19, 2024

The caption read: Now this is how a malicious edit can be done. The clip that @PTI_News posted was cut at 0:41 on this edit. The next 6 seconds were kept out to change the meaning. This is the problem with clickbait journalism. The context here is that this is part of a larger discussion in an HR forum (that conversation is much longer) about how T20 is measured very differently and therefore how different metrics are needed to measure talent in different situations.”

Virat Kohli is currently away from cricketing duties, skipping the ongoing India-England Test series for personal reasons.