Virat Kohli has apologised to Steve Smith for the booing and abuse he was copping from Indian fans and told supporters to cheer him in Australia’s 36-run World Cup loss.
Smith and Warner have been met with jeers at all three of Australia’s games since returning to the side from the ban stemming from the ball-tampering dramas last year.
Australia’s former captain met the same response when he briefly fielded on the boundary during Kohli’s innings on Sunday, mellowing only slightly when he waved happily at a small section.
However Kohli stepped in at the next break in play, pointing to the crowd and his Indian crest and encouraging them to be more positive.
“What’s happened has happened like long back, the guy is back, he’s trying to play well for his side,” Kohli said.
“Even in the IPL I saw him, it’s not good to see someone down like that, to be honest.
“I just felt for him, and I told him, ‘I’m sorry on behalf of the crowd’.
“Because I’ve seen that happen in a few earlier games, as well, and in my opinion that’s not acceptable.”
Kohli is the first player to make such a statement to a crowd since Smith and Warner’s returns.
It comes despite he, Smith and the Australian side having had at times a fractured relationship on the field.
Most notably, the India captain all but accused Smith of cheating in 2017 when he looked to the dressing room before deciding whether to review an lbw decision against India.
“We’ve had issues in the past. We’ve had a few arguments on the field. But you don’t want to see a guy feeling that heat every time he goes out to play,” Kohli said.
“So just because there’s so many Indian fans here, I just didn’t want them to set a bad example, to be honest.
“I felt bad because if I was in a position where something had happened with me and I had apologised, I accepted it and I came back and still I would get booed, I wouldn’t like it, either.”
Australia’s allrounder Glenn Maxwell however said it indicated the two teams were quite close, away from the on-field aggression.
“I’m not surprised because we do get along as individuals with him really well off the field,” he said.
“All we want to do is play our cricket hard and he does that, he gets in opposition faces.”
Nick
Roar Guru
English have no class. But the Australian team are at the bottom of the cesspit with them. Lehmann's request for the public to abuse Broad remains the most classless act by an Australian player or coach I've witnessed. He's never apologised for it, nor ever once seen the hypocrisy of such a request in a post-sandpaper game. Warner and Smith (particularly the former) deserve all they get until they really throw up their hands and admit their behaviour in the past lead to this.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
As I've said elsewhere let them boo. Embrace it and make it your strength. The kiwis are still booing quade copped a decade later. What's remarkable is that Kholi of all people has risen above it
Ouch
Roar Rookie
Course we won’t. They have no class. These days the English celebrate a cricketer (Stokes) who mocks and bullies disabled kids as a hero. However, they may be awarded MBE’s as the English dish those out to ball tamperers. Systemic ball tamperers even, like 2005 Ashes team.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Exactly, we won't see the same gesture from the English Just adds to my respect for Kholi's act
FunBus
Roar Rookie
‘I’m not sure we’ll see the same gesture from the English.’ Got to admire the gall of Aussies. Stuart Broad nicks it and doesn’t walk, something all Aussies, with the exception of Gilchrist, have done since the dawn of time. Lehman (who never walked in his entire career) then demands that Aussie fans hurl abuse at Broad everywhere he goes on the next tour in Australia. Yet everyone’s supposed to cut Warner and Smith a break for organizing the systematic sandpapering of the ball?
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
I'm stunned after he called him a cheat during the Indian home test series. Kholi can carry on like a spoilt, super-competetive brat on the field but I have a lot of respect for the comments he has made. I'm not sure we'll see the same gesture from the English
Neel
Roar Guru
Classy stuff from the Indian captain.
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
All class from Kohli.