5 lively cases of sledging by Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli is as tenacious as they come. There have been Indian legends whose preferred method of response to sledging has been to turn the other cheek verbally and to let their game do the talking.Virat Kohli has not really come under that category. On one hand one can argue that one ought to not engage the opponent in a verbal sparring match while playing the gentleman’s game. There are cases however when the opponent starts with the jabs. Even so one can choose to respond with grace, but Kohli prefers to not take it lying down. It usually helps his game as he uses the aggression to fire him up.
#1 Virat Kohli gives it to the crowd
Cricketers engage in sledging on many levels, giving as good as they get. There is one form of sledging in cricket which is generally one way though, when they are jeered by the crowd. Unlike cricketers who are in the spotlight and can have their words recorded, the crowd has the benefit of anonymity. That can lead to some ugly insults.
Virat Kohli was at the recieving end of such insults on the third morning of the SCG Test. His non verbal response was quite direct and explicit, not the kind which cricketers are prone to. He later said “I agree cricketers dont have to retaliate. What when the crowd says the worst things about your mother and sister. The worst I’ve heard.”
Virat Kohli was fined 50% of his match fees for showing his middle finger to the crowd by the match referee Ranjan Madugalle.