[Watch] When Kohli, Ashwin Lost Their Cool On SuperSport
Kohli was left furious with the broadcasters over DRS glitch (screengrab)
As India build-up towards the much-anticipated Gandhi-Mandela Test series against the South Africans, fans are recalling the memories of the team's previous trip to the country back in 2021-22. The tour is best remembered as the case of a near-miss opportunity by India to finally register a Test series victory on Proteas shores as they fell 2-1 in a three-match tussle.
After a terrific win in the opening Test in Centurion, India suffered painstaking defeats in Johannesburg and Cape Town against an inexperienced and under-transition South African outfit.
Heading into the tour as massive favourites, Virat Kohli's men failed to conquer the nation's final frontier, which was a cause of deep frustration and anger amongst the fans and the players themselves.
Why Ashwin, Virat Vented Frustration On SuperSport
The anger was visible even when the deciding Test in Cape Town was slipping out of their hands during the South African run-chase as the then captain Virat and premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin lost their temper against broadcasters SuperSport over a technical glitch on the Decision Review System (DRS).
The incident involved a seemingly plumb LBW call against South African opener Dean Elgar, who survived the on-field decision given by experienced umpire Marais Erasmus off Ashwin's bowling when the hawkeye shockingly predicted the ball to be sailing over the stumps after impact.
Kohli, Ashwin and the rest of the Indian team were in absolute disbelief along with Erasmus, who could be heard saying "oh that is impossible" on the stump mic. Then Kohli was seen kicking the turf in brash anger and went to the stumps at the batting end to suggest SuperSport had twisted the images to favour South Africa.
"Focus on your team as well when they shine the ball, eh, not just the opposition," Kohli said in frustration, referring to SuperSport's famous revelation of Australian cricketers using the sandpaper to rub on the cricket ball during the controversial Newlands 2018 Test.
At the other end, Ashwin briefly went to the stump mic and said, "you can surely find better ways to win SuperSport" while close in fielder KL Rahul went to the extent of suggesting it's a case of "whole country against 11 men".