Indian fans spurn the cricket in the middle of the MCG for a sighting of King Kohli

Virat Kohli is the star attraction at the MCG for most Indian fans, with many, as Eliza Sewell found out today, preferring to clamour for a sighting of their captain in the viewing room, than to watch the play in the middle.

Indian fans have swamped the MCG, mostly to get a sight of King Kohli.

IT’S a full-time job for security looking after the royal box at the MCG.

Three, sometimes four yellow-shirted officials, with their walkie-talkies at the ready, guard the glassed viewing room, which sits just inside the members’ reserve at the back of the Level 1 seats in the Ponsford Stand.

Everyone wants a look at the King.

As India’s debutant opener Mayank Agarwal and trusted No.3 Cheteshwar Pujara knuckled down on a flat MCG wicket, heads were turned away from the field in search of their captain, Virat Kohli.

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Indian fan Sarthak Goes shows his national colours. Picture: Mark Stewart

There were those who’d take a quick, sneaky glance as they walked past. The kids who demanded mum hold them up to see. And then there were the unabashed fans — mostly middle-aged men — waving and trying to strike up a conversation through the slightly mirrored glass.

The response was frosty. The King’s guards were all over Virat’s would-be new friends, swatting away cameras and moving on the larrikins.

The official players’ box borders Bay M36, just inside Gate 1.

Kids sit on the steps of the standing room section eating samosas. One little girl is concentrating on her reindeer colouring book while her dad watches on.

There’s a stack of Indian fans.

Thousands of Indian fans flocked to the MCG on Boxing Day. Picture: Mark Stewart

Most of the Indian fans just wanted a look at their hero, Virat Kohli. Picture: Getty Images

It’s where Naz Ramakrishnan and his mate Noel Joseph — and 48 of their other friends — were sitting for their seventh Boxing Day Test.

“I think Kohli is a great captain, but some of my best mates think he’s an absolute tool,” Ramakrishnan said.

Joseph said while Kohli was one of the best batters in the world, he didn’t like some of his antics.

“I just find the way he goes about his cricket, I admit he’s passionate … but the way he goes about his cricket, as Aussies would say, it’s a bit (bordering) on floggish behaviour,” Joseph said.

It’s a nice spot to watch the on and off-field action, but Greg Carland has it pretty good too.

He arrived just before 8.30am to nab his spot in the MCC members’ reserve, second level, second row from the front, almost behind the bowlers arm.

Indian fans brought the music to the MCG. Picture: Mark Stewart

Carland said Kohli was a superb leader.

“If he was playing for Australia, everyone would love him,” Carland said.

“It’s what’s expected of him to keep his team up; he’s the leader and he’s got to lead by example, and that’s what he’s doing.

“The nature of the sledging has sort of toned down a bit, it’s just a bit of banter.”

If the adulation for the Indian captain was palpable even when he was sitting in the stands, when King Kohli walked out to bat just after the tea break, the cheer could have been heard from Flinders St.

Another roar followed when he got off the mark with a quick two. He even received applause for an early leave.

The moment he almost played on, on four, was met with silence.

There was that sweet crack as Kohli hit his second four and then his whippet-like speed to add two more the next ball.

An lbw review on 32 had the India fans crying “No!” and when the review replay showed the impact of the Lyon delivery was outside off-stump, the elongated “Kohli, Kohli” chant erupted.

Many of the 73,516 at the MCG had come to see the King — they did not want their audience ended early.

In the shadows of stumps Australian diehards were left with very different emotions after Kohli was put down by his opposite number. The Paine!

The reign of King Kohli continues for another day.

Kohli played some crushing blows and was left unbeaten overnight. Picture: AAP

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Originally published as Indian fans spurn the cricket in the middle of the MCG for a sighting of King Kohli