In a revealing podcast with Islamabad United, Pakistani cricketer Salman Ali Agha addressed the controversy surrounding his exchange of text messages with Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli, shedding light on the true nature of their interaction.

Salman disclosed that he faced considerable backlash on social media following the incident, lamenting the lack of opportunity to share his side of the story and the general disinterest in understanding his perspective.

Expressing profound respect for Virat Kohli as a legendary figure in the sport, Salman clarified that his initial message to Kohli began with the term “Virat Bhai,” reflecting a tone of admiration and affection rather than any form of disrespect or controversy.

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Recalling the circumstances leading to the message exchange, Salman recounted a casual moment with fellow cricketers Abdullah Shafique and Usama Mir while watching a cricket match, possibly involving New Zealand and Pakistan. He emphasized that his message contained no negative connotations that would warrant public scrutiny or misunderstanding.

Acknowledging an error in judgment, Salman admitted to informing Shadab Khan before reaching out to Kohli, unaware that this detail would later contribute to the controversy. Shadab Khan inadvertently disclosed this information during a period of heightened attention surrounding Kohli and Gautam Gambhir’s IPL feud from the previous year.

Salman reminisced about an encounter with Kohli during the Asia Cup, where Shadab’s revelation about the message prompted a lighthearted exchange between the players, highlighting the amicable nature of their interaction.

Despite the off-field distractions, Salman has maintained a strong performance on the field for Islamabad United in the ongoing PSL 9, leading the team’s batting charts with an impressive tally of 188 runs in five matches.