Virat Kohli has been on a destructive path to the coveted status of Australian cricket’s public enemy No.1. Only players of the highest ilk ever get there, and it usually bodes well for their cricketing prowess.
We can only guess what being a Test cricketer, let alone captain, in India is like. I imagine it’s a pressure cooker similar to that of a Holden Commodore that’s travelled eight hours, full of five blokes and twelve poorly hidden cartons, approaching a four-day festival car search point. The stakes are seriously high.
Kohli, the leader of a previously indestructible Indian cricket team is under 1.2 billion crazed cricket fans worth of pressure, is not performing and is running his mouth.
From on-field antics and general carry-on resembling that of a spoilt 12-year-old, to temper tantrums when given out and taking home souvenir stumps after a win in which he contributed almost nothing to his team’s score, he’s given us a smorgasbord of reasons to despise him (plus he disrespected the great man Ian Healy).
But here comes the kicker: Accusing the Australians of a systematic cheating regime. Tell us how you really feel, Virat.
The Australians have every right to veraciously defend themselves over the ridiculously serious allegations Virat is throwing around like Donald Trump throws around tweets about fake news.
But if recent history is anything to go by, Steve Smith and co. might want to avoid stoking Kohli’s fire.
Take the most detested Pom of this decade, for example. Stuart Broad found himself in Australian public enemy No.1 territory after the first Ashes Test in 2013, during which he smashed one to second slip and stayed put at the crease when we were out of reviews.
Broad took a lazy three wickets in that first Test, but after a verbal barrage and a lecture on the spirit of the game from every Aussie with a Twitter account, he went on to take 19 over the next four matches.
We continued to drag his name through the mud before the return series in Australia. A newspaper refused to name him and a chorus of boos welcomed him every time he went near a cricket pitch.
Despite Australia not losing a Test that series, Broad took 21 wickets and was the best English bowler by a country mile. Their next best wicket-taker was all-rounder Ben Stokes with a miserable 15. By the end of that series we decided to zip our lips.
In a more recent instance this summer, stand-in South African skipper Faf du Plessis gave a rousing rendition of visiting cricket villain that Douglas Jardine would be proud of.
He vehemently denied putting sugar-infused saliva on the ball in the second Test in Hobart despite there being clear video evidence of his index finger making love to a mint, and his security guard hip-and-shouldered a Channel 9 reporter as he arrived at Adelaide airport. The batsman also strutted around in sunglasses at nighttime and chewed said mints at cameras.
Faf’s scores before the mint-fingering debacle were a modest 37, 32 and 7, but the disdain that the Adelaide crowd treated him with lit a fire under the No.4. He made an unbeaten 118 in the final Test that left us red-faced and reluctantly applauding.
Now Kohli, the second-ranked ICC Test batsman behind our Smudge, is having a terrible time with the willow. Scores of 0, 13, 12 and 15 in the first two matches are significantly under par for the prodigious run-machine who averaged 109 against England only a couple of months ago. This giant is well and truly having a snooze.
It may be that he has made a conscious decision to get under Smith and the Aussies’ skin with constant controversial dribble in an attempt to get his own game going. Or maybe he just has an over-inflated sense of self-worth and was never smacked or told no as a toddler.
Whatever the reason, the so-far courageous Aussies may want to try and avoid the confrontation and accusations being shoved in their faces.
We should not even tip toe around this sleeping giant for risk of waking him up. We are in India after all, and there is no giant bigger.
Andrew Young
Roar Guru
AGREE on the notion of the sleeping giant; VIrat seems to thrive off pressure and a spiteful contest. Part of the reason I love him as a cricketer. As much as I want Australia to win the series, i'd love to see the Indian captain star with the bat, so let's wake the sleeping giant, and still beat them ;)
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
I don't know if you ever see his post match press conferences, whether India loses or wins, he is candid. Never afraid to take the blame, unlike a few captains I have seen including Dhoni who was always ready with excuses and blame for others. Kohli will tell it like it is including any batting or bowling lacunae, his or others. And I still disagree on the stump. Its incorrect to question any winning captain from taking a stump in my view.
Denam Moore
Roar Pro
There is nothing 'wrong' with him taking a stump, clearly as captain he has contributed, I just think it is symbolic of the way he goes about it. Other leaders might wait to celebrate with their teammates or wouldn't see taking a souvenir home as a priority. The most admirable captains in my opinion will take the blame when their side performs poorly, but give their teammates the credit when winning.
Denam Moore
Roar Pro
Totally agree our stocks are low in the sledging department. Most of the chat I've heard from the Australians this tour has been between themselves, almost like they are ensuring no one loses concentration which is important in an away series. I think the Virat and the Indians have been dishing out a lot more hostility and we've just been responding and throwing in the occasional send-off. Virat has said before that he loves playing Australia because we bite his bait and he channels that energy better than anyone. Good call re Khawaja, seems the likely type. Get him in.
Armchair Expert
Guest
The bear has already been poked and I expect Kohl to make runs in the next test.
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
A very nice article Denam. Virat Kohli lost his father 10 years back at an age of 18 only. When he came to know the news he was playing a cricket match, everybody told him to go home immediately, but he denied and won the match for his side and gone home. Probably due to his absence of father his mum and elder brother Vilas never said 'No' to his any wishes. He is a passionate, very dedicated and workaholic cricketer. he maintain a very strict diet since last 5/6 years. Everybody in the team try to follow his sincerity to the game.
Andy
Guest
This Australian team and other teams though i think we do sledge more than others or like to think we are at least better at it, needs to be taught that sledging is an art, its not just abusing the other guy. There are rules that you have to follow for it to work, namely that you dont do it to someone who loves the conflict, like a Kholi, Broad, Pieterson or to someone who is immune to whatever it is you are saying like a Tendulkar or Richards type. You also need to be smart and have what you say be at least somewhat witty or its just abuse which is most of the time pointless. I dont think anyone on this Australian team can sledge is the problem, Smith doesnt revel in it in the same way that Kholi does and i just dont see Smith being able to keep properly in control of his anger over a series. Warner si really in the same boat, he can get angry but doesnt channel it in the same way that a Kholi does into controlled aggression. Starc seems a little more able to channel the conflict but as a bowler he can only sledge when he is bowling as he is too far away when fielding. I really think the team should, firstly include Usman but then sit him down and help him work on his sledging, i think he has the right amount of anger, intelligence and control.
brett hayes
Guest
A lot easier
brett hayes
Guest
I was thinking the same, Kohli has fired himself up, he necessarily picks up a fight to just motivate himself. If he gets going in next two games then we got no chance at all. Our only hope is if he fails again then his confidence will take a hit and him being a captain will have an effect on whole team making Australia's job of retaining the trophy
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
Great piece Denam! Really liked it. I think you may be right here. Whatever the views on the DRS that got him out, given that it was clearly impossible to tell even in slomo what the ball hit first, its a fact that he had just started to stroke the ball well in that innings after two successive "brain fades" and 3 bad innings. I suspect Australia would have had a bigger loss if he had continued that innings. So its quite likely he will get among the runs in the next 2 Tests. And now he has pumped himself up enough to do it with the Aussies having played right into his hands. Just one point of disagreement with you (I wont contest your views on him as you are in the majority clearly on an Aussie forum :) ) is that as I pointed out on another thread, I see nothing wrong in a winning passionate captain taking a stump home in a match where they have not personally contributed with the bat. He undoubtedly contributed with his captaincy. And by this logic, Mike Brearley's cupboard at home would be very bare indeed.