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'Stay In Limits': Virat Kohli's Rescue Act For Rohit Sharma In Verbal War With Steve Smith

Akshita Patel

Virat Kohli once argued with Steve Smith for Rohit Sharma [Source: @Manojy9812/X.com]Virat Kohli once argued with Steve Smith for Rohit Sharma [Source: @Manojy9812/X.com]

During India's tour of Australia in 2014, Virat Kohli defended his teammate by interfering in the infamous heated clash between Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith. The verbal battle was taken to another level when Kohli warned Smith to stay within his limits before talking.

The India-Australia rivalry has always been an intense tale for fans to witness. Back when Virat Kohli took over Test captaincy from MS Dhoni, he injected a new fire of aggression within the team. 

However, in the heat of the moment, many infamous verbal brawls also erupted in the last tours. One such moment happened in 2014, when Kohli stepped into Rohit Sharma's rescue and confronted Steve Smith.

When Virat Kohli defended Rohit Sharma against Smith

In a fiery exchange which quickly turned ugly, Virat Kohli and Steve Smith seemed to be going at each other's throats during the Adelaide Test. The incident saw Kohli defend Rohit, slam Smith, and remind him to "stay within your limits." Things got so heated that Australian opener David Warner intervened, backing Smith, while the on-field umpires had to step in to calm the situation. 

The Test series, which marked Kohli's debut as captain, was full of drama. The Adelaide encounter saw three players fined for their on-field antics. Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan received 30% match fee penalties, while Warner was docked 15%. 

However, there was more than this to remember from the series. Kohli's rivalry with Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson was a talking point. Also, by the end of the tour, Kohli was handed over the reins of the Test team after the shocking retirement of MS Dhoni during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

Although Kohli's leadership developed with time, taking India to series wins in 2018-19 and 2020-21 in Australia, it is actually Rohit Sharma, who was once a rookie, who now bears the responsibility as India's Test captain. 

With the ongoing five-match series shaping his future, fans hope Rohit can channel the same grit and passion that Kohli showed during his unforgettable Adelaide showdown.