When Virat Kohli's Ugly Sledging Lifted Sleeping Beast In England As Bairstow Smoked A Ton

Jonny Bairstow with Virat Kohli in July 2022 (x.com)

Virat Kohli’s unparalleled greatness is underscored by his intense competitiveness, instrumental in achieving remarkable Indian victories. However, his ultra-aggressive demeanor has also ignited several on-field altercations, exemplifying the fine line between sporting fervor and contentious encounters with opponents.

Back in July 2022, in a similar incident, Kohli went up toe-to-toe against England’s ‘BazBall’ giant Jonny Bairstow in front of the latter’s home crowd in Birmingham. The two competitors were involved in a fiery exchange of words, before they were separated by the on-field officials.

When Virat Kohli Confronted Jonny Bairstow

Team India, under Jasprit Bumrah’s interim leadership, toured England in July 2022 to conclude their five-match series that commenced a year ago. After the visitors amassed 416 in the first innings of the series-decider at Edgbaston off the back of splendid centuries from Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja, the Indian speedsters teamed up to jolt England’s top-order at 83-5.

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At a time when Jonny Bairstow was aiming to lead England’s recovery with newly-appointed captain Ben Stokes; the cricketer was involved in a fiery altercation with Indian veteran Virat Kohli. The two players were spotted exchanging a series of heated remarks, thus creating a tense atmosphere before both were separated by the on-field umpires.

Watch: Jonny Bairstow’s altercation with Virat Kohli

Jonny Bairstow had the last laugh in his battle against Virat Kohli, as the cricketer plundered twin centuries in the match to set up a famous English win. Employing an enterprising stroke-play, Bairstow blasted 106 scintillating runs from just 140 balls in the first innings before he shared an unbeaten 269-run stand with fellow-centurion Joe Root on the final day.

England pulled off their 378-run target with ease and ended up levelling the five-match series 2-2.

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