Justin Langer had attempted to use Virat's celebration in starting a debate on double standards against Australia.
Australian coach Justin Langer's comments on Virat Kohli's celebrations after taking wickets during the first Test match between India and Australia have not gone down well with Indian former cricketers.
Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar on Saturday said that if Langer's comments were meant to gain sympathy, that is not going to happen.
"Virat Kohli only celebrates with intensity and I see nothing wrong in that. Why is it that Australian cricket has a bad name? Because they would abuse and celebrate. Let [Justin] Langer say what he wants to. He is going to get no sympathy for that," he told India Today.
Earlier, former India cricketers VVS Laxman and Ajit Agarkar also took on Langer. They said that the Langer was not right in equating Kohli’s celebration with what happened ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town.
Langer had attempted to use Virat's celebration in evoling a debate on how the world had double standards against Australia. Langer had said that if any player from the Australian team had done the same, they would be branded as ‘worst blokes’ in aftermath of the ball tampering scandal in Cape Town that engulf Australian cricket.
"He's (Kohli) a superstar of the game and he's the captain. We've talked for as long as I can remember in Australian cricket teams that you want to keep the opposition captain down as much as possible. You love seeing that passion in sport. Mind you I think if we did that at the moment we'd be the worst blokes in the world," he had said.
However, former India cricketers did not accept Langer's comments.
'No sympathy for Australia'
Gavaskar compared the conduct of Australian cricket teams with the most successful West Indies teams of the past.
"Even today I saw after Pat Cummins went for a few runs he was having words with KL Rahul. Why do you need to do that when you have gone for runs? Batsmen don't look to have a word in bowler's ear after hitting them for runs. That's why nobody sympathizes with Australia. When a West Indies team struggles today, everyone wants them to do well," he added.
Agarkar and Laxman echoed similar sentiments on the issue.
“I sometime feel Virat Kohli goes over the top (with the celebrations), but he is consistent with it,” Agarkar told ESPNCricinfo. “That’s the way he is; it is up to match officials to take the call whether it is over the top or not – I understand (Langer’s comments) with the reputation Australia trying to mend after what happened in South Africa, but to equate it with Virat (celebration), I am not sure it is the right thing to do,” he added.
Laxman too felt that Langer was wrong to bring in the ball tampering episode while talking about Kohli’s celebrations.
“What happened in Cape Town was not right, they (Australia) crossed the line. That was something to do with ball tampering; here Virat didn’t sledge nor used abusive language, that’s the way he celebrates."
“If I was Langer, I will tell the team to forget about the celebration, forget about what the opposition is doing and instead focus on being the best Australian cricketer you can be. Play with enough conviction that you can score runs quickly, against any opposition. Show that in your body language,” he added.
Head, Ponting unhappy over booing
Kohli was booed by a small section of the Adelaide Oval crowd when he stepped out to bat in the second innings against Australia, an act that has been criticised by rival batsman Travis Head and former skipper Ricky Ponting.
Kohli came out to bat after the fall of opener KL Rahul and was jeered by a small group of Australian fans. He received similar boos when he had headed to bat on the opening day.
"He's a pretty good player and probably doesn't deserve to be booed but that's how it is. It's probably not needed but that's the crowd," Travis Head said.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting also expressed his displeasure at seeing the action by the fans.
"I don't like seeing it at all," Ponting told cricket.com.au after Kohli scored 34 runs in a 104-ball innings before being removed by spinner Nathan Lyon just before the draw of stumps.
"It didn't worry me as a player when it happened in England a couple times. You've almost got to accept it as acknowledgement for what you've done in the game. But I'd rather not see that happen at all."
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