Virat Kohli is India’s cricket captain, the world’s No.1 batsman, one of Forbes‘s most marketable athletes in the world, married to a Bollywood actress and a multimillionaire – but, most importantly, he’s the man Aussies love to hate.
Not me, though – I love watching him play. I love his competitiveness, his tenacity, his toughness, his resilience, his desire, his will to win, his passion, his pride, his flamboyance, his swagger and his aura. I could go on, but I wouldn’t want you to lose your lunch.
Kohli’s on-field conduct usually makes headlines every time these two nations play each other. After a day’s play I’ll scroll through social media to find a large percentage of articles are about something Kohli said or did on the field, more so than reports on the actual match itself.
The guy is a walking headline. Media outlets will take a cheeky bit of banter or gamesmanship and spin it into clickbait material by generating discussion on whether he’s taken his on-field conduct too far or perhaps crossed a line.
You can’t blame the media, though, when you have a sporting athlete who generates so much attention and interest; you have to create a narrative and keep writing about it because cricket fans are so engaged that they’re compelled to read and comment.
I felt it was important for Kohli to speak out on the issues of sledging from recent matches between Australia and India and admit that he made the mistake of taking things too far in the past, and I encourage readers to watch the interview he did with Adam Gilchrist before the Test series began.
In the post-match press conference after the second Test he made it clear that his on-field chatter did not include personal attacks, and I think that in itself has shown he’s matured as a person and grown as a leader.
It was good to see Australian captain Tim Paine denying any personal attacks had taken place, expressing his enjoyment of his personal battle and competitive banter with his opposite number and suggesting that it’s “good to watch”, which it certainly is.
Australian players have often been criticised for their sledging and allegations of abuse and personal attacks over the past few decades, so I’ve never quite understood the hysteria around Kohli’s aggressive nature.
(Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
But since the infamous ball-tampering scandal we’ve seen a different approach taken by Australia in a bid to clean up the image of the national side and improve team culture.
Some believe the approach has made Australia too soft, but from I’ve seen and heard, most of the Australian players, including captain Tim Paine, have held their own against the banter thrown at them from Kohli.
The stump microphone, which allows TV viewers to listen to the on-field banter between players, has provided quality entertainment and a fresh perspective on players not only competing at the best of their abilities but also having fun and expressing their characters as well.
From an entertainment perspective I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the comedic banter and witty comebacks rather than the expletive-laden verbal stoushes between opposing players.
Kohli has mastered the new approach to sledging, getting under an opposition player’s skin and trying to throw them off their game, but in a way that’s witty and arrogant rather than personally abusive.
We occasionally get those polarising figures – antagonistic players and larger-than-life enigmas who come to our shores – and we love to boo them out of the stadium. Kohli is all of those things rolled into one. He has the ability to draw emotional responses from opposition players, ex-players, journalists and fans alike.
We’ll quickly jump onto social media to express our displeasure with Kohli’s misperceived poor on-field behaviour, have a yarn with our mates at the pub about how much of a ‘flog’ he is or discourage our young cricketers from wanting to be like him.
Regardless of what you think of Kohli, he has our attention. Apart from the compelling cricket we usually get between these two competitive teams, he’s a big part of the reason we tune in – and it’s not only because we’re drawn in by his character; we’re glued to the screen when he’s batting because he’s such a great player.
Imagine the series without Kohli. The Australians would still be pushing the ‘sledge-free nice guy approach and there wouldn’t be any drama, intensity or aggression.
Kohli has brought that Indian spice to the Test series, which has brought the best out of the Australian team – and for that I’m grateful.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
Ask Paine https://t.co/PQJYC8TEtx
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
Not according to Paine https://t.co/PQJYC8TEtx
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
Always 2 sides to ones character. Off the field he seems like a genuinely good bloke
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
Tim Paine disagrees with all the haters, loves watch Kohli play and loves his aggression. https://t.co/PQJYC8TEtx
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
After watching the interview with Gilchrist, I like Kohli. Never mind what Tim Paine says.
Rajiv Chowta
Guest
When your country only has one sports and is has not lost the need to be enslaved and idolize people Kohli is what you get. Sadly he is very typical of the over privileged high caste Indians in the younger generations. If Kohli and Co had done what Warner and Smith had done, It would be a non issue in India. In fact they'd find a way to blame racism and anyone but the BBCI and the cricketers! Hopefully Kohli breaks an arm or is disabled for a long time and Hopefully pant joins him. The new Ugly Aussies are the boorish, over privileged, arrogant and above the law Indian Cricketers
Sudden
Guest
Others get punished when they celebrate in the face of the batsman. Has Kohli done that? From what I've seen, all his yelling and whooping have been behind the batsman, around the slip cordon. Rather that than the Hasan Ali style of celebrating. If he does it to the face, I'm sure even he wouldn't escape a copping.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Wow Adam, you're copping it today. I agree that we need our pantomime villains and it's great theatre. Javed Miandad and Richard Hadlee are two others that spring to mind. As long as there is no personal abuse or rampant swearing at each other, then I'm all for it. I do agree though that he appears to be a good front runner, but not so in control when the chips are down (in the field that is, with the bat he is pretty much the man right now). The only thing I don;t like is his send offs when a batsman is out. that is a poor look, it's specifically against the rules and he does it all the time. Others get fines and demerit points for that stuff.
Paul D
Roar Guru
He is an absolute flat track bully when it comes to sledging. The worst type of person - the one who gloats and screams when they're winning, but won't shake hands when they lose and sulk, hide from what they have done in defeat. Probably the closest sporting contrast I can think of is the widely loathed Ty Cobb from American baseball - incredible numbers, and respected as one of the all-time greats as but one of the most hated and reviled players during his time due to his behaviour on the field.
JamesH
Roar Guru
It's hardly sensationalism if it's true, and it's hardly hysterical to point out that it happened. Paine has too much class to publicly badmouth an opponent. Besides, why would he complain? He's winning the mind games so far.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Eh, the banter that came from Pant, Paine and Harris was entertaining. But Kohli's banter isn't really banter. It's just out and out sledging - telling players they're no good, send-offs, deliberately over the top celebrations when a wicket falls... There's nothing interesting about any of that. It's the same stuff that Warner and other Aussies (often correctly) got criticised for in the past . And the idea that Kohli has mastered sledging is laughable. The more he sledges, the worse he plays. Just look at his awful 2017 series against Australia. He hasn't gone as far this series but he's still said some pretty dumb stuff by all accounts. A few players, like McGrath and Warne, got better when they were mouthing off at their opponents. I didn't like some of it but the results spoke for themselves. The difference with Kohli is that he seems to lose focus on the actual cricket. I love watching Virat bat because he is brilliant. I cringe watching him in the field because he is a goose. The one exception this series was when he did his little dance thing in Adelaide. More of that please, Virat, and less of the boorish, immature stuff.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
He's a polarizing figure. I couldn't stand him and his actions in (I think it was) 2014. As long as sledging doesn't get personal or abusive, I'm all for it. As Allan Border said, the game has become so professional, many "characters" like Kohli have been lost from the game. Opinions are always going to be divided, but as long as no lines are crossed (which hasn't happened according to captain Paine and vice-captain Hazlewood), then enjoy the sporting theatre. Many ex-players and pundits have expressed their displeasure regarding Kohli's behaviour and many ex-players and pundits have come out supporting his aggression. It's all a matter of opinion. But if Kohli crosses those lines of what is appropriate and the Aussies players or officials actually make an official complaint, then I'll write a 'hit piece' on him. But until then, his antics are simply open to opinion. He's not going to change because that's who he is. For now, I believe the game is benefitting from the sporting theatre he brings.
Mon
Guest
Oxygen has to be an issue where your head is at the moment, surely??
Mon
Guest
Your whole argument and that of the people that support your point is one-eyed, blind sided hypocritical fan boy tripe. You’re saying Kohli is fine doing and saying what he dies because he’s such great entertainment value! Haha! Watch cricket much? There was a team recently that employed sledging and the such to get an advantage in the game, I think they won 13 or 14 tests in a row? Where were there from again? I suppose you were getting your knickers in a knot over their tactics though. Not entertaining enough for you? Watching you lose your little marbles would’ve been fun to watch. Hypocritical wowser.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Sadly, the face of cricket in the world (or India to you and me) is a tool. The fans are so spellbound however that it’s impossible to imagine a circumstance where he might be held accountable. As much as it hurts me to admit, it’s a lot like how we Australian fan boys allowed for poor behaviour from our teams.
Fight fair
Guest
two questions Adam. Did Kohli behave as suggested above in Perth? Is it okay for all international cricketers behave in the same way?
Mon
Guest
What?? Who is gonna say ‘Kohli crosses the line..’ exactly? Seems to me that nobody will? Why? Is he in the right? In the wrong? Or is our own media keeping our 1st XI and a section of loud wowser ‘supporters’ propped up to such high standards that such behaviour from visiting players goes *unnoticed* Warner would pull off a better cartwheel than Kohli. Smith is a better test batsmen and captain. So who would everyone jump online and call a flog you reckon???
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
"replacing Australia as the ugliest international team in the game" I pretty much agree with that sentiment,but there is a fundamental difference. The ugly generation of Australia that you have mentioned, i don't think they have ever tried to look pretty. And they never cared about what were being said about them. This Indian team,they keep playing victim card,that's my problem. They want to do same as "ugly" Australian teams have done, but when they are called bad as the ugly Aussie teams have been called,they start whining because "at least" they are not doing "as much as the ugly Aussie teams". That is something i can't stand at all. You can't have both at same time.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
"Seems you have your rose coloured glasses on when making your argument." I am pretty sure my eye-sight is 6/6,so no colored glasses required & never used. "Kohli is the best player in the world, whether you want to admit it or not." Well it might have a reverse argument, he is no where near "best player in the world" whether you admit or not. I don't give that tag to a random bloke who can't play spin in his own backyard or seam swing when it is doing a bit. "I’ll stand by the words of Australia’s captain and vice-captain that no line has been crossed and to quote Tim Paine (on his on-field battle with Kohli) as “great to watch” I think there is something misunderstood, i don't think paine was talking about his "behavior",because he was never asked about it.He was answering questions about their chattering. As far as kohli's sledging is concerned with paine, i re-iterate, i never had problem with sledging. Let me make something clear, if he would have made his gesture "f__ you" here to my people who are sitting in stands, i would have demonstrated him the literal example of clarke's "f___ing broken arm" "I’ve seen a lot of video and read a lot of stories." Human behavior is ever changing & instant changing variable.Unless you show me the video footage & mic recording, i aint falling for those victimized whining. I am very well aware how these "stories & videos" can easily be manipulated by changing just 1 element you won't even notice.Take the recent incidence of monkey-gate saga, symonds is claiming bhajji broke down apologizing, bhajji is saying something else.God knows who is saying truth. That is job of umpires to determine who is guilty,should be left with them. Human is hero when he conquers,when he get conquered he always plays victim card,basic nature of human mate. And if he did as you are claiming, then the following condition takes place i) Merv did it --> so he is bad guy ii) Kohli did it <-- because merv did it==so kohli should be bad guy too. iii) Kohli is not bad guy <-- because merv did it && kohli followed it(he is victim who is retaliating). By your own argument both kohli & merv should be in same league.Playing the victim card doesn't flow my boat. "Kohli is over analyzed because he’s a headline waiting to happen" Many things make regular headline, the reasons that are making it headline that matters. He is being over analyzed because last time he claimed "he doesn't respect others who don't respect him". Then after being made captain & averaging less than mitch starc in his own backyard,he uses social media to announce "the friendship is over". It looks like you missed a lots of things that made him "walking headline" for all the reasons a real man should not make headline. "Its too bad that you’ve missed the point of a couple of my counter arguments" Feel free to point out.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
“So-called Aussie abuse”. Seems you have your rose coloured glasses on when making your argument. Kohli is the best player in the world, whether you want to admit it or not. Of course the cameras will be in him. He’s the captain, all captains are focused on in the field. Kohli is over analyzed because he’s a headline waiting to happen. He could do a cartwheel and the headline will read “Kohli crosses the line by doing a cartwheel on the field during play” and everyone will jump on the internet to call him a flog. It’s pure sensationalism to get readers to click, bite and like. I’ll stand by the words of Australia’s captain and vice-captain that no line has been crossed and to quote Tim Paine (on his on-field battle with Kohli) as “great to watch”. I’m also sorry you didn’t get to see Merv Hughes. I was only a kid when he played but I’ve seen a lot of video and read a lot of stories. I’d encourage you to do the same... he was some character back in those days! Its too bad that you’ve missed the point of a couple of my counter arguments so I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.