Fans in Melbourne showcased their admiration for star Indian batter Virat Kohli by chanting his name, “Kohli, Kohli,” near the boundary ropes during Australia’s first innings. Virat Kohli, known for his aggressive nature on the field, responded to the fans’ chants and encouraged the crowd to chant even louder. Some Aussie fans also shouted abusive chants at Kohli to which he gave an epic reaction.
India and Australia are competing in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. During Day 1, local fans were not pleased with Virat Kohli for his shoulder barge on Sam Konstas. Each time Kohli approached the boundary ropes, the crowd jeered at him.
Virat Kohli Shoulder Barges Sam Konstas in BGT 2024-25 4th Test
During the first session on Thursday, Kohli intentionally approached Konstas, who was heading to the opposite end of the crease. The former Indian skipper shouldered Konstas, which led to a heated exchange between the two players. The on-field umpire and Usman Khawaja intervened to calm the situation.
Kohli received widespread media praise upon his arrival in Australia, as it might be his final tour Down Under. However, the Melbourne Cricket Ground crowd did not appreciate his physical approach to intimidate the youngster. He was booed by fans while fielding at the boundary line on the opening day.
Fans Chant ‘Kohli Kohli’ as Superstar Fields Near Boundary Ropes
An X user posted a video showcasing Virat Kohli fielding near the boundary during the match. Fans in the stands enthusiastically chanted slogans like “Kohli, Kohli” to show their admiration for the star cricketer.
However, Australian fans targeted Virat Kohli by chanting “you are a wan*er” at him. Surprisingly, Kohli seemed to enjoy the attention and encouraged the fans to be louder. Kohli refrained from retaliating, keeping his composure despite the taunts.
You can watch the video below:
Kohli vs crowd đđ§ #AUSvsIND #AUSvIND #INDvsAUS #INDvAUS #BGT2025pic.twitter.com/wDfL47mCbT
â VK 18 đ (@itsvinay0) December 27, 2024
“It’s Not Even Been a Year Since Virat’s Son Was Born” – Basit Ali
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali criticized Kohli for intentionally shoulder-barging Sam Konstas during the match. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Basit Ali expressed disappointment over Kohli’s behavior, adding that sledging is a part of the game, but it should be done in a respectful manner.
“It’s really disheartening to see this controversy. I’ve engaged in sledging as well, but only verbally and in a mannered way. However, what Kohli did today is hard to believe. If someone asks me for my opinion, I’d say a thousand times over that Virat Kohli is guilty. Imagine when his son is 12 or 13 years old, walking somewhere, and someone pushes him in the same way – how would Virat Kohli feel?”
“It’s not even been a year since Virat’s son was born. Take Sachin Tendulkar as an example – we sledged against him so much, but he never responded like this. He always answered with the bat. Virat intentionally collided today, and it was not accidental,” he added.
Kohli avoided suspension and received a 20 percent fine of his match fee along with one demerit point, his first in the past 24 months. Earlier, Mohammed Siraj faced the same penalty for giving an aggressive send-off to Travis Head during the second Test at the Adelaide Oval.
Also read: Watch: Ravindra Jadeja turns left-handed Jasprit Bumrah during MCG Test
