“I don’t regret anything that I’ve said” - When Virat Kohli & Steve Smith sparred over DRS controversy in 2017 BGT
Back in 2017, former Team India skipper Virat Kohli and former Australian captain Steve Smith had a war of words after the second Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). The 2016/17 series was a fiercely contested one, with India winning 2-1.
In the second Test of the rubber, Australia were set a target of 188 to take a 2-0 series lead. Australian openers Matt Renshaw and David Warner were dismissed cheaply which brought Smith to the middle. On the third ball of the 21st over, Smith was trapped in front of the stumps and was immediately given out.
He proceeded to look towards the dressing room, seemingly asking whether he should go for a review. But the Indian captain and standing umpire Nigel Llong intervened and asked Smith to walk back to the dressing room.
From there on, Australia were bowled out for 112 and lost the match by 75 runs. With this win, India levelled the series 1-1 with two matches to go in Ranchi and Dharamsala.
Kohli was asked about his opinion on the incident after the game in Bengaluru and said (all quotes via ESPNCricinfo):
"I saw that two times happening when I was batting out there. I pointed it out to the umpire as well that it has happened twice that I have seen their layers looking upstairs for confirmation and that's why the umpire was at him.
"When he turned back the umpire knew exactly what was going on, because we observed that, we told the match referee also, and the umpires, that they've been doing that for the last three days and this has to stop, because there's a line that you don't cross on the cricket field, because sledging and playing against the opponents is different, but I don't want to mention the word, but it falls in that bracket. I would never do something like that on the cricket field."
Smith was asked about Kohli's comments in a pre-match press conference ahead of the third Test at Ranchi and had the following to say:
"It was a little bit disappointing. I think that obviously I made a mistake and I came out and said that. What I did was wrong and I know that. But that was the first time it has happened. I know as a team we don't do that. And I think his comments. I think he said that we did it twice while he was out there. I don't think he was out there long enough for two appeals. He's entitled to his opinion, but from my point of view he's completely wrong."
When asked about his post-match comments in a press conference, Virat Kohli said he wanted to move on without leaving any "bad taste" but also had no regrets. He said:
"I think about what I say, I don't regret anything that I've said, but at the same time, it's very important not to be stupid and go on with the same things on a daily basis because there's cricket to be played. There was a decent break in between, and we certainly don't want to sit and think about one issue all the time."
India would draw the Test in Ranchi and then win the final Test in Dharamsala to complete a 2-1 series over Australia. This Test series was a classic for the lovers of the game, with a lot of tension between the two sides after the DRS incident.
India and Australia to square off in the 2024/25 Border Gavaskar Trophy
India and Australia will square off in the 17th edition of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The series opener will be played from November 22-26 at the Optus Stadium in Perth followed by the second Test from December 6-10 at the Adelaide Oval.
The iconic Boxing Day Test will be played from December 26-30 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and the New Year's Test from January 3-7, 2025, at the Syndey Cricket Ground.
India have held the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since 2016/17, winning the subsequent editions in 2018/19, 2020/21 and 2022/23.