Kohli wins award for anti-booing stand

VIRAT Kohli admits he was surprised to be given the ICC Spirit of Cricket award for pleading with Indian fans to cheer Steve Smith rather than boo him last year.

Kohli made headlines around the globe during the World Cup when he pointed at fans booing Smith in Australia’s game against India, and urged them to clap. The moment was seen as a turning point in the tournament, as

India’s fans responded in kind and several other supporters of rival nations followed suit.

The Indian captain was rewarded at Wednesday’s ICC Awards, where Pat Cummins was also named Test player of the year. Marnus Labuschagne was crowned emerging star.

The World Cup episode came after Smith and David Warner were heckled early in the tournament by fans after their return from suspension over the ball-tampering scandal. Kohli’s gesture came despite a chequered past between he and Smith. They had clashed over Smith’s use of the decision review system in 2017, with Kohli even indicating he though the then-Australian captain was cheating. But he said none of that mattered when he’d seen the way Smith and Warner had been treated during the World Cup.

“I’m surprised that I have got it, after many years of being under the scanner for the wrong things,” Kohli admitted. “It is part of camaraderie that sportsmen must have with each other. That moment was purely understanding an individual’s situation.

“I don’t think a guy who is coming out of a situation like that needs to be taken advantage of. You can sledge, can have banter on the field, you say things to the opposition in wanting to beat them. But booing someone is not in the spirit of any sport, I don’t endorse it.”

Neither Smith nor Warner were booed in this week’s first one-day international between Australia and India in Mumbai, with the latter cheered on making his century.

The game also appeared to be played in a good spirit on the pitch, even as the Australians marched to a 10-wicket walloping of India.