Kohli rants have made Perth loss more humiliating

On reaching his sensational century in the Perth Test, Virat Kohli tapped his raised bat with his gloved right hand and mimicked the mouthing of words, suggesting that his action speaks for itself. It appeared a strong message intended for his critics.

But his subsequent gloves-off rants have been grating. Confronting rival players with little provocation made worse the 146run defeat, in a Test in which not playing a spinner and the loss of the openers’ batting confidence stood out. When India landed in Australia, it was seen as a perfect opportunity for the No 1 Test team to win a series in Australia for the first time. There is no Steve Smith or David Warner, and the team that prides itself on an in-your-face approach was distracted, trying, in the fallout of the ball-tampering scandal, to reinvent a subdued avatar.

Kohli promised he would not start anything, and the understated manner of the Adelaide Test win seemed to reinforce that. But his verbal clashes with skipper Tim Paine has undone that.

Far from unsettling Australia, it has only raised Paine’s stature as a leader and motivated the Australia team, which now sees it has a point to prove. The incidents in Perth may have helped ramp up TV ratings. But a contorted Brand Virat Kohli trumping Brand Team India need not work to the visitors’ advantage with two Tests left.

Defeat brings recriminations, and not playing a spinner has again raised questions about India’s dubious selection calls across the three major away tours in 2018. Ravindra Jadeja wasn’t a good fit merely because Nathan Lyon reigned supreme. He could also have exploited the rough. And when Kohli pointed out the Aussie off-spinner clicked because of the pace at which he bowled, he might well have been talking about Jadeja, who has that ability.

Jadeja is India’s best fielder by a distance and had proved his allrounder’s credentials when given a chance at the Oval. But he would not have been amused to be used merely as a substitute fielder – his strong throwing arm is a big help on large Australian grounds. The heated exchanges with Ishant Sharma on the fourth day of the Test seemed to indicate Jadeja’s state of mind.

It is no secret that India’s collective batting confidence has been punctured under Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri. KL Rahul is fighting inner demons, and is a far cry from the player who hit a brilliant century on the 2014-15 Australia tour and carried India’s batting burden on a dodgy shoulder in the return series at home in 2017. Ajinkya Rahane too is a pale shadow of his earlier self, anxiety writ in his batting. It also raises questions about batting coach, Sanjay Bangar.

It’s magnificent to watch Kohli the batsman. But unless he marshals his troops, and steps back to let teammates bask in some of the glory, the potent bowling attack and his own batting may mean little as the series defeats in South Africa and England showed. Otherwise, Kohli’s sledging of Paine will only have served as a lightning rod for a very proud Australia playing in their backyard.