New Zealand v India: Cricket superstar Virat Kohli fires back at swearing allegations

19:57, Mar 02 2020

SKY SPORT

A vocal Indian captain Virat Kohli helped lift his team on day two of the second test.

Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli has denied any wrongdoing during the second test in Christchurch.

Cricket's megastar was quizzed by Stuff about his on-field behaviour on day two of the second test at Hagley Oval on Sunday - a match New Zealand went on to win by seven wickets on Monday.

Among Kohli's vocal outbursts was one which appeared to be directed towards Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson when he was dismissed during New Zealand's first innings.

Kohli appeared to yell "Bhen Chod", which is Hindi-Urdu slang for a crude sexual insult, in Williamson's direction during a tirade.

PHOTOSPORT
Indian captain Virat Kohli and New Zealand opposite Kane Williamson shake hands in Christchurch at the end of the test series.

Kohli was also seen pressing his index finger to his lips seemingly shouting: "Shut the f... up" in the direction of the crowd after India captured the wicket of opener Tom Latham on Sunday.

The Indian batting great, who amassed just 38 runs across four innings at 9.5 in the test series, denied he had done anything wrong.

He also claimed Sri Lankan match referee Ranjan Madugalle had cleared him of any wrongdoing.

Kohli was asked whether his behaviour was befitting of an Indian captain and if he needed to set a better example and tone down his antics.

"You need to find out exactly what happened and then come with a better question. You can't come here with half questions and half details of what happened," Kohli replied.

PHOTOSPORT
Captains Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson watch the game from the boundary edge during the fifth Twenty20 international at Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui.

"And also if you want to create controversy this is not the right place to be. I spoke to the match referee and he had no issue with what happened. Thank you."

The world's top-ranked test and ODI batsman was horribly out of form during India's tour of New Zealand. He scored 2, 9, 3 and 14 in the two tests and in 11 innings across the three formats scored 218 runs at an average of 19.8 with just one half-century.

New Zealand also won the test series 2-0 and the ODIs 3-0 after India had started the tour with a 5-0 clean sweep in the T20s.

Virat Kohli had a couple of things to say during day two of the second test.

Cricket fan Moiz Khan said he was shocked at what he saw on television.

"From the highlights that I saw of the match, Virat Kohli could be clearly seen hurling bad words at Kane.. He said 'Bhen Chod'," Khan said in an email to Stuff.

"I am surprised that no one took notice of his words and that he is able to escape without any slap on his wrists.

"He should be punished for bringing the game into disrepute.. Just because he is Indian and that India has a clout over the cricketing world does not mean that he can do whatever he pleases."

AP
India's Virat Kohli gestures to the crowd during play on day one of the second cricket test.

It was a far different scene from earlier in India's tour, when Kohli and Williamson where seen sitting together smiling and chatting just outside the boundary when neither of them played in the final T20 of the five-game series at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval on February 2.

At that stage, Kohli had every right to be happy - his team was on its way to winning their fifth consecutive game against New Zealand.

Kohli and Williamson were seen shaking hands at the end of the test series presentation on Monday in Christchurch.

Stuff