Virat Kohli was, on Wednesday, handed the 'Spirit of Cricket' award for his gesture towards Steven Smith at the World Cup in England last year. Having been on the wrong side of things countless times, Kohli himself was surprised at the award.
“I’m surprised that I have got it, after many years of being under the scanner for the wrong things. It is part of the camaraderie that sportsmen must have with each other," he said.
Let's recount some instances when Kohli actually went against the spirit of the game in recent times, which means forgetting his run-ins with Gautam Gambhir and the finger showing at the crowd in Australia in his honeymoon period in International cricket.
Refusing to walk in Australia
Last year in Australia, Kohli was at the receiving end of a rather questionable decision. The Indian skipper was caught out by Peter Handscomb with concerns regarding whether he took the catch cleanly being raised. The on-field umpire gave the soft signal as out and the third umpire, with no conclusive evidence to overturn, ruled Kohli out much to his dismay. He refused to walk initially, going completely against the spirit of the game of going by the umpire's decision.
Arguing with umpires in the World Cup
While the World Cup saw him appreciate Steven Smith and asking the crowd to not boo him, instead applaud him, he was also at the wrong end of the spirit of the game twice. The skipper was fined for arguing with the umpires in the game against Afghanistan and against Bangladesh he was again at the umpire for a decision against Soumya Sarkar. The third umpire upheld the on-field umpire's call much to Kohli's dismay.
Outrage in South Africa
Centurion 2018 will be remembered for Virat Kohli's exemplary century but he also got into a war of words with umpire Michael Gough over the condition of the ball. In South Africa's second innings, Kohli continuously complained to the umpire about the damp outfield affecting the ball and breached the code of conduct. In other words, his actions came under "conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game."
The Indian T20 League no-ball controversy
In the Indian T20 league game between Mumbai and Bangalore, a huge no-ball controversy erupted at the fag end of the game. Bangalore needed seven off the final delivery by Lasith Malinga, who overstepped. The on-field umpires did not spot the no-ball that could have changed the game. As Bangalore skipper, Kohli was outraged and didn't mince words in the post-match presentation ceremony - "We are not playing club cricket. The umpires should have had their eyes open. That is a ridiculous call in the last ball. If it is a game of margins, I don't know what is happening. They should have been more sharp and careful out there."
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Punit Paranjpe
