Kohli called out for ‘intimidation’
VAUGHAN BLASTS INDIA SKIPPER
VIRAT KOHLI was spoiling for a row in Chennai and found two to prompt accusations of “intimidation” of the umpires.
Kohli’s side have outplayed England in the second Test to leave India poised to level the series today with the third of the four-match series starting in Ahmedabad next week. Chasing an improbable 482, England finished the day on 53-3.
The return of the skipper’s histrionics may have helped give his team an extra edge, but also served as a reminder of just what England are up against.
Twice Kohli remonstrated with the umpires, firstly when he was correctly warned for running on the pitch while batting.
The second time was when a tight lbw decision against Joe Root went the England skipper’s way even after a review.
Kohli had a stand-up row with the umpire and even coach Ravi Shastri got involved at the close.
“Virat Kohli’s having a real go at the umpire,” former England skipper Michael Vaughan told the BBC. “You can’t have this, I’m sorry. Kohli is such a powerhouse, you can’t have him intimidating the umpire. It’s a stinker of a decision but you can’t be doing that as captain.
“I think Virat Kohli goes looking for that. He needs that in his game. India like to think people are against them, they like the confrontation. It’s danger time for England.
“Virat seems to have got that vibe back. The first Test all felt very nice and England loved playing against that team, but Virat thought, ‘That’s not me, that’s not my team’ and now they are playing theVirat way.”
The Virat way is also about cricket of the highest quality and Ravi Ashwin did that with his fifth Test hundred. It was the third time he had a ton and a five-wicket haul in the same match. Only Ian Botham has done it more often with five.
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has defended under-fire Anthony Martial, insisting his attitude and class will silence the critics.
Martial, 25, has once again found himself being questioned after Manchester United’s disappointing draw against struggling West Brom.
The France forward was also subjected to inexcusable racist abuse on social media platform Instagram after the match.
United manager Solskjaer knows the goals have dried up but said: “I am not concerned by his form. I know Anto is working hard to get back to where he was and he will score goals.
“His attitude is very good. Form is sometimes temporary but class is permanent and the kid’s got class. So when he works hard, we know it’s going to come out with the good performances in the end.”
Martial’s talent has never been in doubt, particularly with the ball at his feet, but his application and his desire to defend from the front has been called into question.
He scored 23 goals from 41 starts during the 2019-20 campaign so his current goal haul of seven from 22 starts pales by comparison.
Martial scored two of his goals in United’s ultimately unsuccessful Champions League campaign and looks likely to be given the chance to add more against Real Sociedad on Thursday, when United target Europa League consolation in the first leg of the last-16 tie switched to Turin because of travel restrictions.
United’s pursuit of a first Premier League title for eight years suffered a blow at the Hawthorns, with Solskjaer’s men ceding further ground to leaders Manchester City. Secondplaced United now trail by seven points, having played a game more.