Parkinson’s ‘cocky Kohli’ tweets dug up

MATT PARKINSON could face a hot reception if he plays in either of the last two one-day internationals in Pune after old tweets emerged of him insulting a number of Indian legends. The Lancashire leg-spinner, who could feature in the rest of the series given captain Eoin Morgan’s promise to give games to squad players, posted tweets between 2012 and 2014 attacking current India captain Virat kohli and predecessor MS Dhoni. Even though Parkinson, 24, has deleted the worst of the tweets that were sent when he was a teenage bowler, screenshots have appeared in Indian media this week ahead of his possible appearance in Pune. In one tweet Parkinson, during England’s triumphant tour of India in 2012-13, calls kohli and Dhoni ‘disgraces’ and in others refers to India players as ‘cheats’. There is also a provocative tweet aimed at India’s Ravindra Jadeja saying: ‘Shows the awful standard of Indian first-class cricket that Ravi Jadeja has three triple-centuries and he can’t bat for s***.’ But most of his vitriol is directed at the brilliant but controversial figure of the India captain, with one of the tweets that read, ‘Chin up kohli you cocky arrogant p****’ going viral this week. Sportsmail understands kohli has been made aware of the tweets and a source said: ‘He’s never shy in seeking confrontation on the field. kohli is bound to go hard at Parkinson if he plays and I’m sure the other India players will remind him what he wrote.’ England are said to be relaxed about the situation, believing what Parkinson wrote and has subsequently deleted as a 16-year-old has little relevance to his status now as an international cricketer.