Australia vs India: Relentless Virat Kohli Sledges Mitchell Johnson, Sets Up Fiery Day 5 at MCG
Virat Kohli, who explicitly said that he had no respect for Mitchell Johnson, irked the mercurial Australian pacer by sledging him and giving him a send-off on Day 4 of the MCG Test.
An angry Virat Kohli continued from where he left on Sunday, giving Mitchell Johnson a mouthful on Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne on Monday. When Johnson walked in to bat in the post-tea session, Kohli welcomed his the Aussie pacer with some words. When Johnson exited, he received a similar treatment from the Indian vice-captain. (Scorecard | Blog)
More words were exchanged after the Johnson dismissal! Tense stuff out there. LIVE: http://t.co/LDINCret7f #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/liRWMR1wps
- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 29, 2014
The Indians had cleared marked out Johnson on Monday. After the left-handed all-rounder holed out, failing to control a hook off Mohammed Shami bouncer, Kohli ran past the Aussie, hurling a volley of words that clearly did not amuse Johnson. (Virat Kohli has been more Aussie than Indian, says impressed Dean Jones | Kohli's aggression doesn't impress Gavaskar)
The hostile send-off annoyed Johnson. Kohli's latest display of aggression didn't amuse the on-field umpires, too. After Johnson complained, umpires Richard Kettleborough of England and Lankan Kumar Dharmasena were seen having a word with a very animated Kohli. (How Kohli Survived Johnson's Verbal Assault)
Kohli was fined in the first Test in Adelaide for a squabble with Australian players and his outburst at Johnson in a press conference on Sunday, has evoked mixed reactions.
Is Kohli wasting too much energy on verbal spats with Australian players? "He loves it that way," said former skipper Sourav Ganguly, who added that Day 5 will be all fire and brimstone with MCG expected to witness a hot battle between Johnson and Kohli.
Kohli will remain India's batting spearhead. The flamboyant batsman has not taken a backward step on the tour, compiling three defiant centuries and fighting fire with fire in the face of Australia's verbal pot-shots.
Having struggled on tour in England and brought a middling batting average of under 39 Down Under, Kohli now has the record to match the swagger. (Australia's Dropped Catches Surprise Kohli)
Not even retired great Sachin Tendulkar managed three Test centuries on tour of Australia and the last Indian batsman to achieve the feat was Sunil Gavaskar in 1977.
Kohli's average has soared above 44 and his imperious 262-run stand with fellow centurion Ajinkya Rahane (147) on Sunday was a record fourth-wicket partnership at the MCG.
It was also the third-best by any Indian team in Australia and the eighth highest by any touring outfit in the country. (Kohli Slams Ton, Blows a Kiss to Anushka)
When Kohli strayed from his crease, Johnson raised the tension by flinging the ball at the stumps that struck the batsman on the leg. Kohli winced but got back to his feet and after smashing Johnson for four, strode up to the 33-year-old to express his displeasure. (Kohli is India's Future, Says Ganguly)
Kohli leapt for joy when he notched his ton, blowing a kiss off his bat to his glamorous girlfriend Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma watching from the stands.
After a lofted off-drive for four off Johnson, he blew three kisses at the bowler. "I respect a few of them but if someone doesn't respect me I've got no reason to respect them," added Kohli.
(With agency inputs)