Cricket
Virat Kohli praised India's first-class cricket after India beat Australia by 137 runs in Melbourne.
Updated : Dec 30, 2018, 02:14 PM IST
Virat Kohli praised India's first-class cricket and praised the domestic set-up in India for producing players like Jasprit Bumrah after India beat Australia by 137 runs in Melbourne. It was great response by Virat Kohli as the standard of Indian domestic cricket has been in news during the third Test match thanks to some uncharitable comments by Australian commentators.
While Kohli's did not take any names, it was great response to and (maybe a subtle dig) at Australian commentators like Kerry O'Keeffe and Mark Waugh.
"Our first-class cricket is amazing, which is why we won. Credit must go to first-class set-up in India, which challenges our fast bowlers in India, and that helps them abroad," said Kohli after winning the Melbourne Test match and retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
"Our first class cricket is amazing ... credit has to go to our first class setup back home."
— #7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 30, 2018
- @imVkohli #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/uq2wACoLjQ
Jasprit Bumrah also credited Ranji Trophy for his performance after getting the Man of the Match award.
Good to see that Bumrah credits his bowling in first class cricket for his success
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 30, 2018
Congratulations King Kohli on being the first Indian captain to win a #boxingdaytest Congrats once again to retain the Border- Gavaskar trophy,it's an honorable moment to be in as a captain,Thanks for appreciating first class cricket post match. #TeamIndia #ViratKohli #KingKohli pic.twitter.com/TGJt07JACV
— Saurabh Tripathi (@BeingShubh55555) December 30, 2018
Commentator Kerry O' Keefe has made a demeaning remark on India's first class cricket while discussing Mayank Agarwal’s credentials on the first day of the third Test.
While commenting on Agarwal’s triple hundred against Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy, O’Keefe said, “Apparently he got the triple against the Railways canteen staff.” He also added that the bowlers from the said team were "chefs and waiters".
Mark Waugh also had said that Mayank’s average of 50 in India is like 40 in Australia.
Virat crediting fc system. Bumrah crediting Ranji Trophy. We all know they mean the Jallandhar Railway Canteen Staff
— Sidvee (@sidvee) December 30, 2018
After backlash, O'Keeffe issued an apology and said, "I was mentioning the runs Agarwal got in first-class cricket in India and there's been a reaction. There was no way I was demeaning the standard, it was tongue in cheek. There are lots of runs scored so apologies if anyone out there took offence ”.
Mark Waugh had also clarified his comments later.
“All I said was averaging 50 in first-class cricket in India is equivalent to averaging 40 in Australia mainly because of the number of players who achieve that. For the record Agarwal played very well in his 1st test innings,” Waugh said on Twitter.