‘Very immature’: Indian captain Virat Kohli ruthlessly mocked for ‘disgraceful’ stunt

Indian superstar Virat Kohli has come under scrutiny for his “disgraceful” behaviour during the third Test against South Africa.

Indian captain Virat Kohli has come under heavy scrutiny for his “disgraceful” behaviour during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

On day three of the series decider at Newlands, Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin trapped Proteas captain Dean Elgar on the front pad, and umpire Marais Erasmus raised the dreaded finger.

Elgar, who was on 22 at the time, called for the review, and Hawkeye replays showed that the ball would have bounced over the stumps, so the on-field decision was overturned.

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But the livid Indians were not impressed with the outcome, with stumps mics capturing their on-field rants and accusations against host broadcaster SuperSport.

Ashwin lashed out: “You should find better ways to win, SuperSport”

Indian vice-captain KL Rahul was overheard saying: “Whole country playing against eleven guys.”

At the end of the over, Kohli walked over towards the striker’s end and intentionally spoke into the stumps mics: “Focus on your team as well when they shine the ball, not just the opposition. Trying to catch people all the time. Certainly conducting a fair game here DRS (sic),”

The Indian skipper later sarcastically said: “Well done DRS, very well done. Certainly conducting a fair game here DRS.”

Four years ago, Australian batter Cameron Bancroft was infamously caught applying sandpaper to the match ball at Newlands in 2018 – SuperSport cameras captured the incident.

Virat Kohli's reaction after Dean Elgar survived an LBW call by using DRS 😬

📸: Disney+Hotstar#SAvsINDpic.twitter.com/6rMxeLIEV0

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) January 13, 2022

Ashwin’s delivery had pitched on a full length, but Newlands is renowned for being one of the bounciest decks in international cricket. The ball had struck an outstretched Elgar on the knee roll, so it’s not unforeseeable that it would have bounced over the stumps.

Although the technology isn’t perfect, suggesting the host broadcaster somehow tampered with Hawkeye to alter the outcome is laughable.

“SuperSport notes comments made by certain members of the Indian team,” the South African broadcaster told AFP in a statement.

“Hawk-Eye is an independent service provider, approved by the ICC and their technology has been accepted for many years as an integral part of DRS.

“SuperSport does not have any control over the Hawk-Eye technology.”

Although Kohli and his teammates were expected to be sanctioned for the drama, but instead the have been cautioned by match referee Andy Pycroft.

He is reported to have told the Indian team management the players would not be sanctioned but were warned “the players’ behaviour was uncalled for and they could attract sanctions if such reactions are repeated”, Indian outlet Zee News repoerted.

‘Disgraceful’: Cricket world reacts

The cricket community ruthlessly mocked Kohli for his on-field antics, with former England captain Michael Vaughan calling it “disgraceful” behaviour.

“Decisions go with you, they go against you, that didn’t go the way they think it should have gone,” he told Fox Cricket.

“Virat Kohli is a legend of the game, but that’s not the way to act, that is not the way to act in a game of Test match cricket.

“The ICC have to stamp this down, they have to stamp down on the Indian side, you can’t get away with talking down the stump microphone like Ravi Ashwin has done and the Indian captain has done.”

Virat Kohli speaks with South African umpire Marais Erasmus. Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP

Former India batter Gautam Gambhir told Star Sports: “Kohli is very immature. It‘s worst for an Indian captain to say like this in stumps. By doing this you will never be an idol to youngsters.”

South African great Shaun Pollock agreed that Kohli and his teammates “went over the top”.

“India was desperate to get the wicket and the emotion overflowed after that,” he said. “The ball pitched in line and bounced and Elgar got a good stride forward. With that stride, it was going to be close.

“Indians went over the top. Hawk-eye is something you rely on for decision making. It’s an independent body. They do their level best with everything they have got. They have got their own cameras. I can understand the disappointment because they wanted the wicket, but I think they went over the top a little bit.

“Hawkeye, it’s scientific. They got each little point that they plot. And that’s how they work out where it goes. That’s a lot more scientific than any of us. We rely on them to make the decision and that’s what they have done.”

The technology could be faulty.
The umpires could make a mistake.
The opposition could do something unacceptable.
Any of these could happen.
That doesn't mean you go to the stump pic and say random things just because things aren't going your way. #SAvIND

— Vishal Dikshit (@Vishal1686) January 13, 2022

Ban Kohli for a game...I get his anger. I'd be angry too. But to shout into the stump mic effectively stating the opposition is cheating with zero evidence is worth giving a ban for. #SAvIND

— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) January 13, 2022

Indian players especially Virat Kohli should learn to respect the opposition, umpires, match referee, spectators & most importantly the gentlemen's game. India's abusive behaviour is one of the many reasons for them to be the most unpopular team in cricket history. @ICC#Cricket

— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) January 13, 2022

‘Changed the game’: Kohli hits back

South Africa ultimately won the Test match by seven wickets, chasing the 212-run target in 66.3 overs to secure a 2-1 series victory.

Kohli registered scores of 79 and 29 at Newlands, extending his drought of international innings without a century to 62 consecutive knocks.

Speaking to reporters after the defeat, Kohli refused to apologise for his behaviour.

“We understood what happened on the field, and people on the outside don‘t know exact details of what goes on in the field, so for me to try and justify what we did on the field and say we got carried away is wrong,” he said.

“If we had gotten charged up and picked up three wickets there, that would have probably been the moment that changed the game.

“The reality of the situation is that we did not apply enough pressure on them for longer periods of time throughout the course of the Test match and hence we lost the game.

“That one moment seems very nice and very exciting to make a controversy out of, which honestly I‘m not interested in making a controversy of it at all.

“It was just a moment that passed, and we moved on from it, and just kept focusing on the game and trying to pick up wickets.”

Once again a lack of consistency from match officials:

Kagiso Rabada - 15% fine, one demerit point leading to a one match ban

Virat Kohli - no action taken#Cricketpic.twitter.com/uv6oyOQTnJ

— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) January 15, 2022

After the match, reports emerged that no official code of conduct breach charge had been levelled against India - instead, match referee Andy Pycroft informally warned team management.

The ICC website states that its code of conduct is to “maintain the public image, popularity and integrity of cricket by providing an effective means to deter any participant from conducting themselves improperly on and off the ‘field-of-play’ or in a manner that is contrary to the ‘spirit of cricket’”.

Earlier this summer, Australian batter Travis Head copped a 15 per cent match fee penalty for yelping an expletive after a missing a delivery from England all-rounder Ben Stokes during the first Ashes Test at the Gabba.

Therefore, Kohli should consider himself very lucky not to be sanctioned for his actions in Cape Town.