Ahmedabad: Virat Kohli is undeniably modern cricket’s best batsman across all three formats.
The Team India captain is also unquestionably one of the world’s most aggressive cricketers who plays the game hard way and wears his emotions on his sleeves.
He has mellowed with age and responsibility, but if the opposition is trying to needle him or one of his teammates, or a close umpiring decision doesn’t go India’s way, Virat is not one to keep his mouth shut. Like the crowd at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday saw.
Following are some of Kohli’s on-field spats with rivals/umpires:
Stoking The Fire
As Ben Stokes tried to get into Mohammed Siraj’s skin after the Indian pacer bowled a bouncer to the England all-rounder, Kohli rushed to the spot and had an animated exchange with Stokes. The umpires had to separate the two players, but Kohli threw another mouthful at Stokes as the batsman was going back to his crease
Root Of All Problems
Last month, during the second Test of the ongoing series against England in Chennai, Kohli was involved in an ugly spat with the on-field umpire a review had been turned down against Joe Root. India were desperate for the England captain’s wicket and Root managed to survive a close leg-before wicket appeal in the final over of Day 3. A furious Kohli was seeking the umpire’s view on what ground the third umpire had ruled it not out. Many felt the Indian captain was lucky to avoid suspension for showing dissent.
Not So Elementary, Watson
The Australians are known to provoke and sledge their opponents so that they can frustrate them and get them out. Shane Watson tried such tricks with Kohli at Melbourne during India’s 2011-12 tour of Australia, but Kohli – who was much younger and more hot-headed then — would have none of it. They went eyeball to eyeball and it was about to get out of hand when Australian skipper Ricky Ponting pulled the duo apart.
Mitchell Johnson episode
During the Melbourne Test of the 2014-15 tour, Kohli had a run-in with Mitchell Johnson after a throw from the Australian pacer struck him on the back. A displeased Kohli reacted by smashing Johnson for a four, then moved towards the bowler and gave him a piece of his mind. The Aussie was dubbed a ‘spoilt brat’. The incident spilled over beyond the field as Kohli said at the press conference that he was really annoyed and told Johnson to try and hit the stumps next time, not his body.
A Gambhir Affair
In another well-publicised on-field incident, Kohli got into an ugly spat with fellow-Delhi and Team India player Gautam Gambhir during an IPL game between RCB and KKR in 2013. After being dismissed by Balaji, Kohli moved towards a group of celebrating KKR players, instead of walking back towards the pavilion, and said something. KKR captain Gambhir immediately charged towards Kohli and the two almost came to blows. It could have got really nasty had KKR’s Rajat Bhatia not coaxed the duo to go their way.
