New Delhi: Indian batsman Virat Kohli was involved in a heated moment with Australian fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) after his dismissal on Friday morning.
Kohli, who got out on 36 runs, was caught behind off Australian seamer Scott Boland to a wide delivery that was pitched outside off stump.
The fans were booing and making remarks, which prompted Kohli to confront them. He gave them a stern stare before being escorted away by security.
This incident is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding Kohli in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). He was previously fined 20 percent of his match fee and handed over one demerit point by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for shoulder-bumping Australian debutant Sam Konstas on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG on Thursday morning.
Australian media and fans have been targeting Kohli ever since then. The press has been relentless in its criticism of the former Indian skipper, with various outlets publishing scathing articles and headlines.
The West Australian labeled Kohli a ‘clown’ on its back page, while FOX Sports questioned whether fines were sufficient to deter affluent cricketers like Kohli. Wide World of Sports (WWOS) had come out with the headline that Kohli was “extremely lucky” to escape a ban.
The Sydney Morning Herald highlighted how changes to the ICC code of conduct have helped Kohli avoid suspension, further fueling the debate. SEN Cricket suggested that the ICC should ensure Kohli’s current Test match is his last on Australian soil.
Former Australian cricketers like Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist, too, expressed concerns about Kohli’s behaviour.
For a seasoned cricketer like Kohli, such hostile reception is not a new experience. In the past, Kohli has stood up for himself, sometimes going over the line, while giving it back to the boorish crowds.
‘Finger gate’ incident in 2012
Kohli’s on-field clashes with players are well-known, but his altercations with fans have also made headlines. At the Sydney Test, Kohli responded to abusive fans with a middle-finger gesture, sparking widespread media attention. The Australian media dubbed the incident as ‘Fingergate’, drawing parallels with the infamous 2008 ‘Monkeygate’ scandal in which spinner Harbhajan Singh was accused of making a racial slur against all-rounder Andrew Symonds at the same venue.
Match referee Ranjan Madugalle had summoned Kohli to discuss the incident. In a subsequent interview with Wisden, Kohli recalled the encounter, saying: “He threw the newspaper in front of me and there was this big image of me flicking on the front page and I said, ‘I’m so sorry, please don’t ban me!’”
Kohli admitted to his guilt, and Madugalle imposed a 50 percent deduction of his match fee. Reflecting on the incident, Kohli expressed gratitude towards Madugalle, stating: “I got away with that one. He was a nice guy, he understood I was young and these things happen.”
BGT 2024 – Gabba
Kohli’s passion and energy were on full display on Day 2 of the third Test against Australia in Brisbane. He took a spectacular catch to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne, and his celebration was equally dramatic. Kohli silenced the jeering Gabba crowd by holding a finger to his lips.
This gesture was a response to the crowd’s earlier booing of his teammate Mohammed Siraj, which Kohli had vocally defended. His fiery antics made his rivalry with the Gabba crowd a central story of the Test.
2018 Perth Test & more
Kohli’s heated exchange with Tim Paine saw him taunting the then Australian captain: “If he messes it up, it’s 2-0.” Paine quickly fired back. “You’re the one that lost it!”
Another intense confrontation occurred during the 2014 Border-Gavaskar series, where Kohli clashed with Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson. The incident took place during the Melbourne Test, where Johnson threw the ball at Kohli, hitting him on the body. This sparked a fiery confrontation between the two, with both players exchanging heated words.
Kohli also had a run-in with Australian all-rounder James Faulkner during the 2016 One Day International (ODI) series. Faulkner had sledged Kohli, prompting the then Indian captain to respond with a fiery retort: “Go bowl, don’t waste your time. You’re wasting your energy. No point. I’ve smashed you enough in my life. Go bowl.”
Kohli’s rivalry with Australian opener David Warner is also well-known. During the 2014-15 Test series, the two were caught in heated exchange throughout the series. Warner reportedly got under the skin of Kohli, who went on to score a brilliant century.
(Edited by Tony Rai)