India batsman Virat Kohli says he has been left “paranoid about my privacy” after individuals filmed inside his hotel room in Perth at the T20 World Cup and posted the video online.
Kohli, 33, said he had been left paranoid over the video footage of the batsman's belongings at the Crown Perth. The video was taken before the tournament started and when India were stationed in Perth, Western Australia.
However, Kohli responded to the incident on Monday, after the Indian team left Perth following their defeat to South Africa and travelled to Adelaide for their next match against Bangladesh.
“I understand that fans get very happy and excited seeing their favourite players and get excited to meet them and I've always appreciated that,” Kohli wrote to his 221 million followers on Instagram.
“But this video here is appalling and it's made me feel very paranoid about my privacy. If I cannot have privacy in my own hotel room, then where can I really expect any personal space at all??”
“I'm NOT OK with this kind of fanaticism and absolute invasion of privacy. Please respect people's privacy and not treat them as a commodity for entertainment.”
The hotel said it had launched an investigation and a contractor had been “stood down”.
Crown Resorts said it was aware of the footage filmed by a contractor working at its Burswood hotel complex.
“We unreservedly apologise to the guest involved and will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure this remains an isolated incident,” a spokeswoman for the company said in a statement to Australian media.
“We have zero tolerance for this behaviour, and it falls well below the standards we set for our team members and contractors.
“Crown has taken immediate steps to rectify the issue. The individuals involved have been stood down and removed from the Crown account.”
Australian batsman David Warner said the video – which shows Kohli's bags, wardrobe, bathroom and clothes – was “ridiculous” and “totally unacceptable”.
The International Cricket Council said: “The ICC is incredibly disappointed by the gross invasion of privacy suffered by a member of the Indian travelling party at the Crown Perth, during their team's pre-event preparation before the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022.
“We continue to work with event hotels and security providers to ensure that this remains an isolated incident and player privacy is fully respected at all times.”
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David Miller, right, and Wayne Parnell of South Africa celebrate after beating India in the T20 World Cup Group 2 match at Perth Stadium on October 30, 2022. AP -
David Miller and Wayne Parnell of South Africa celebrate. Getty -
David Miller of South Africa hits out. EPA -
South Africa's David Miller ducks under a bouncer. AFP -
India's Ravichandran Ashwin after taking the wicket of South Africa's Tristan Stubbs. AP -
India's Arshdeep Singh, centre, is congratulated by his teammates after the dismissal of South Africa's Rilee Rossouw. AP -
South Africa's Aiden Markram. AP -
India's Mohammed Shami, left, is congratulated after dismissing South Africa's Temba Bavuma, right. AP -
Aiden Markram of South Africa dives to avoid a run out. Getty -
David Miller of South Africa. Getty -
South Africa's Aiden Markram plays a stroke. AP -
India's Arshdeep Singh, left, appeals successfully for the dismissal of South Africa's Rilee Rossouw. AP -
South Africa's Aiden Markram plays a shot. AFP -
South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma plays a shot. AFP -
India's Arshdeep Singh, left, celebrates after dismissing South Africa's Quinton de Kock. AP -
India's Suryakumar Yadav plays a shot. AFP -
Suryakumar Yadav of India hits out. EPA -
Suryakumar Yadav of India celebrates reaching his half century. EPA -
Rillee Rossouw and Wayne Parnell of South Africa celebrate Images) -
Virat Kohli of India top edges a pull that is caught on the boundary by South Africa's Kagiso Rabada off the bowling of Lungi Ngidi. Getty -
Lungi Ngidi of South Africa celebrates after taking the wicket of Virat Kohli of India. Getty -
South Africa's Lungi Ngidi, centre, is congratulated by teammates after dismissing India's Virat Kohli. AP -
Anrich Nortje of South Africa bowls against India. Getty -
India's Virat Kohli plays a shot. AFP -
Lungi Ngidi of South Africa celebrates the wicket of Rohit Sharma of India. Getty -
South Africa's Kagiso Rabada bowls. AFP -
KL Rahul of India bats. Getty -
Lungi Ngidi of South Africa celebrates the wicket of Rohit Sharma of India. Getty -
South Africa's Anrich Nortje bowls. AFP -
Lungi Ngidi of South Africa catches Rohit Sharma of India off his own bowling. EPA -
India's Virat Kohli walks from the field after he was dismissed. AP -
India's Virat Kohli walks off the field. AP
