Kohli ruffled some feathers when he implicitly accused Smith and the Aussies of using the dark arts to make the most of the DRS in the second Test.
Virat Kohli ruffled some feathers when he implicitly accused Steve Smith and the Australian team of using the dark arts to make the most of the DRS in the second Test. During a press conference after the match, Kohli said: “I have seen it twice while batting. I have seen their players looking upstairs (dressing room). I told the umpires, this had to stop. I don't want to mention the word but it falls in that bracket. I would never do something like that on the cricket field.” While there was a huge uproar from the Aussies, the BCCI firmly backed Captain Kohli and his statement.
In an official statement, BCCI said that after due deliberation and seeing the video replays of the episode, the Indian Cricket Team stood by its captain. They said in a statement: “The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after due deliberation and seeing the video replays of the episode steadfastly stands with the Indian Cricket Team and its Captain Mr Virat Kohli. Mr Virat Kohli is a mature and seasoned cricketer and his conduct on the field has been exemplary. Mr Kohli’s action was supported by ICC Elite Panel Umpire Mr Nigel Llong who rushed in to dissuade Mr Steve Smith from taking recourse to inappropriate assistance. BCCI has requested the ICC to take cognizance of the fact that the Australian skipper Mr. Steve Smith in his press conference admitted to a ‘brain fade’ at that moment. BCCI sincerely hopes that the rest of the matches are played in the true spirit of cricket.”
It all started when Smith, on the behest of his batting partner Peter Handscomb, tried to sneak some advice from his team-mates sitting in the dressing room after he was given out LBW in Australia's second innings. Umpire Nigel Llong tried to stop Smith from doing that as it's against the rules of the game, which clearly state that signals from the dressing room must not be given during the usage of DRS.
Smith said it had been a one-off incident caused by a "brain fade" but Kohli countered that it was not the first time it had happened and that he had complained to the match officials. "I find the allegations questioning the integrity of Steve Smith, the Australian team and the dressing room, outrageous," CA chief executive James Sutherland said in a statement.
"Steve is an outstanding cricketer and person, and role model to many aspiring cricketers and we have every faith that there was no ill-intent in his actions. "We reject any commentary that suggests our integrity was brought into disrepute or that systemic unfair tactics are used, and stand by Steve and the Australian cricketers who are proudly representing our country," he added.
Australia coach Darren Lehmann denied his team had repeatedly sought dressing room assistance on reviews. "Never, ever, ever," Lehmann said. "Very surprised to hear that, but it's their opinion."
"He (Kohli) has his opinion and we have ours, but at the end of the day, we play the game the right way... We've never done any of that, so we'll just get on with the next game."
With inputs from agencies
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Virat Kohli and Steve Smith")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}