Sunil Gavaskar has criticized Virat Kohli’s behavior during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy, suggesting it added extra pressure on his teammates. Kohli’s performance with the bat wasn’t up to par, as he fell victim to balls outside his off-stump eight times, tallying only 190 runs over five matches.
In addition to his batting struggles, Kohli made headlines for some on-field incidents, including a shoulder bump with Australian player Sam Konstas. Following this, Kohli received a reprimand from the ICC. He also attempted to provoke the Australian fans with a gesture referencing the infamous sandpaper incident.
Gavaskar expressed his disapproval of Kohli’s reactions, emphasizing that there was no provocation in the Konstas incident and that trying to retaliate against the crowd was pointless. According to Gavaskar, responding to booing doesn’t help the player and can actually worsen the situation.
He stated in a column for The Sydney Morning Herald, “What Kohli did with the shoulder bump is simply not cricket. Players learn over time that it’s not effective to retaliate against crowds who are just there to enjoy the game.”
Gavaskar also pointed out the impact Kohli’s actions have on his teammates, noting that they can become targets when Kohli reacts. He mentioned that Kohli’s performance didn’t help the team in the series, as he continued struggling against balls outside his off-stump.
“Kohli must realize that his responses can put more pressure on his teammates, who also become targets for the spectators,” said Gavaskar. “His inability to tackle those deliveries hurt India’s chances in the series.”
Looking ahead, India’s next Test series is scheduled for June during their tour of England.
