BCCI backs Virat Kohli over Cricket Australia’s ‘outrageous’ allegations

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday (March 8) stood by India skipper Virat Kohli and his allegations levelled against Australian team for repeatedly seeking DRS inputs from the dressing room during second Test match in Bengaluru.

BCCI’s release comes in the wake of Sutherland’s comments terming Kohli’s allegations against Smith and the Australian team “outrageous”.

Virat Kohli just stopped short of calling Smith’s act an act of cheating while former Australian captain Michael Clarke voiced concerns over the incident in an interview with India Today.

The current Indian skipper has succeeded an era which believed in not backing down if they tried to bully you on the field.

Kohli said it was not only time it had happened and he had already complained to the match officials about the issue during a match in which there were a number of verbal confrontations. “I have played my cricket in Bangalore“, Rahul had said in conversation with Ravi Shastri in the post-match presentation ceremony.

“Never, ever, ever. Very surprised to hear that, but it’s their opinion”, said Lehmann. Branding his own actions as “brain fade” clearly doesn’t reflect well upon the individual’s decision making abilities.

Afterwards Smith admitted he had suffered a “brain fade”, but Kohli was less charitable.

Kohli stated after the Test’s conclusion that he had seen the Australians look towards their viewing area twice earlier in the match when he was batting, and had advised both on-field umpires to watch out for it. But if something is going on for three days, then that’s not a brain fade.

“I got hit on the pad and looked down to Petey and he said look up there”, Smith explained.

The drama was triggered by Smith getting caught by umpires while glancing at the dressing room before taking a DRS call during the second Test, which ended in India’s favour yesterday. ‘If something is going on for three days, then that’s not a brain fade, as simple as that, ‘ he said.

Let’s just get that right, Ian Healy: Kohli does not need a character certificate from you. There is no doubt that every country likes to play their cricket the way Sutherland and Lehmann want cricket to be played.

“I was looking at our boys”, admitted Smith.

Chasing a formidable first-innings target of 188 on a pitch featuring uneven bounce and sharp turn, the visitors found themselves at 74/3 with Smith at the crease alongside Handscomb. Kohli’s response was classic: “I did not use the word, you did”. “Looking back Smith will be embarrassed and must have learnt a lesson”, the veteran added. “Someone from the ICC has to take the decision…and maybe when Smith sees the videos he will be embarrassed by the moment”, Waugh said.