Virat Kohli wins praise for his aggression
Despite the runin with former Oz cricketer Ian Healy, skipper has been lauded by legends for onfield attitude
Former Australian cricketer Ian Healy might have been offended with Virat Kohli’s aggressive mannerisms on and off the pitch, but other legends of the game are already in awe of it.
While Kohli himself landed a befitting reply by asking journalists to go through Healy’s reaction after he was given out at the Centurion back in 1997, former cricketers have lauded the Indian captain for his aggressive approach towards the game.
On being reminded at the postmatch conference that he had been criticized by the Aussie, Kohli replied: “[I’ll lose respect] in his eyes? We’ve got 1.2 billion people in India. One person doesn’t make a difference to my life. And also I think you should go and search on YouTube, when he was given out in Centurion, down the leg side. I heard he said something about me not having good behaviour with umpires – I think you all should YouTube that video and I think, yeah, that says it all. Just see that video and next time you ask me the same question.” Healy was given out caught behind while his side was trailing by 157 runs in the third Test of a three-match series in which that Australia had taken an unassailable 2-0 lead. They set a paltry target of just 29 runs for the Proteas, which they managed to chase down in 6.4 overs.
Healy had earlier stated: “The pressure is starting to tell on (Kohli). I’m losing respect for him. He’s not only now continuing his disrespect of the Australian players and umpires, but I think he’s putting pressure on his own players now.”
However, that’s not what a few former cricketers felt. According to West Indies great Sir Vivian Richards, the Indian captain’s aggression was the icing on the cake of the gripping four-day match. “Classic test cricket on display. Kohli’s aggression being the icing on the cake. #IndvAus,” he tweeted.
Kumar Sangakkara went a step ahead, categorically refuting that the aggression has helped the No 1 Test side and Kohli has been able to inspire them throughout.
“Great fight back by the Indian side @imVkohli seems to be able to inspire his team to give their all in any situation,” he tweeted. The best of the lot, however, came from South African speedstar Dale Steyn. “Love Virat’s aggression. Imagine if he was a fast bowler ,” he wrote on his Twitter handle.
Great fightback by the Indian side @imVkohli seems to be able to inspire his team to give their all in any situation