When Free-Spirited Virat Kohli Showed Middle Finger To Australian Crowd
Virat Kohli was abused by the SCG crowd (Twitter)
Indian batter, Virat Kohli, celebrated his 15th anniversary in international cricket today. As the cricketing world pays tribute to his phenomenal achievements, some also took a stroll down memory lane to remember the moments when a young and fiery Kohli, known for his spirited persona, often got caught in the eye of controversies.
Kohli gave it back to the OZ crowd for nasty sledging
One such defining moment traces back to the intense 2012 Sydney Test between arch-rivals India and Australia. With the backdrop set after a loss for India in Adelaide, the stage was ready at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The day witnessed a masterclass from Australian legends, Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting, as they stitched together a mammoth 288-run partnership, with Clarke amassing an unbeaten 251 and Ponting contributing a significant 134. This batting display overshadowed the Indian bowling attack, leaving them searching for answers.
But it wasn't just the on-pitch action that caught attention. Stationed near the boundary for a significant duration, Kohli had a challenging day.
Not only did he find himself battling the fierce hits from the Australian bats, at one point, colliding with a television camera and ground equipment in an attempt to prevent a boundary, but he also faced an increasingly hostile crowd. The constant sledging from the Australian spectators seemed to hit a nerve.
In what was to become one of the most talked-about moments of the series, an evidently frustrated Kohli was captured on camera gesturing offensively towards the crowd as he showed his middle finger, a move that drew widespread attention and criticism.
Kohli, never one to shy away from expressing himself, took to Twitter to provide context to his actions. He candidly remarked, "I agree cricketers don't have to retaliate. But when the crowd says the worst things about your mother and sister the worst I've heard.."
Meanwhile, today, as Kohli marks a decade and a half in the sport, the journey from that brash young player to the seasoned, mature batsman and calm person he has become now, shows not just his cricketing evolution but also his growth as an individual.
 "Jatin")
