#12YearsOfViratKohli: Five times Virat Kohli showed why he is the 'BAD BOY' of cricket

Team India skipper Virat Kohli completes his 12 years in International cricket on Tuesday (August 18) as we take a look back at some of the most infuriating moments of cricket's most loved bad boy. 

Kohli's name is enough to know that one is talking about one of the greatest cricketer's in recent times. Call him a G.O.A.T, the Indian skipper, with his aggression and made sure to quite many bowlers.

Back on August 18, 2008, Virat made his debut vs Sri Lanka as a 20-year-old will today complete his 12 years in International cricket. While he managed to score just 12 runs in that match, he then went on to register his first ton in 2009.

Now, 'King' Kohli has the second-most number of tons in ODI cricket. He currently has 43 centuries in the 50-over format and he is just behind Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar.

No one can argue that Kohli wears his heart on his sleeves during matches and is never too shy to make his opponent know about how he is feeling.

This is why the Indian skipper often finds himself in the spotlight for his onfield antiques during games, which also shows his passion for the game too.

So here are some of "THOSE" top moments:

1. Virat Kohli's middle-finger gesture in Sydney

During India's 2011-12 tour to Australia, Kohli was pleaded guilty and saw 50 percent of his match fee deducted for flicking off the crowd on day two of the Sydney Test.

In his defence, Kohli claimed that his reaction came after the crowd kept intimidating him with slurs and other gestures during the game.

"I agree cricketers don't have to retaliate. What when the crowd says the worst things about your mother and sister. The worst I've heard," Kohli said.

2. Virat Kohli vs Australian players

The same year, the same tour, but this time the location has changed as Virat Kohli once again got involved in a verbal spat with Aussie cricketers during India's Test match in Adelaide back in 2012. 

On his way to secure his maiden Test hundred, the Delhi-born cricketer got involved in an infuriating argument with a lot of Australian players after he tried to sneak out a forceful single while batting on 99 and narrowly escaping a run-out.

As soon as Virat got back to his feet, the now 31-year-old got involved in heated exchanges with the Aussie players and was seen repeatedly pointing his bat towards them. It was thanks to Ricky Ponting's intervention that the argument resolved in a truce and Kohli struck his ton right after.

3. Kohli's send-off message to Soumya Sarkar

In chase of a target 315 in 50 overs against India during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 penultimate game of group stage, Bangladesh batsman Soumya Sarkar received an unwanted sending-off from Virat Kohli upon dismissal.

In the 12th over the match, Kohli reviewed an LBW against Soumya after the umpire gave him not out. The 3rd umpire then failed to find enough evidence where the ball struck the bat first, resulting in India losing their review. Kohli was really unhappy with the decision of the umpire upstairs and argued about it with the on-field umpire and showed his disbelieve in the decision. 

But about four overs later, when Soumya Sarkar did lose his wicket, Virat was the first man to remind the Bangladesh opener that this time there's no turning back. Kohli himself took the catch to a slower delivery from Hardik Pandya which caught Soumya by surprise. 

4. Kohli tells Christchurch crowd to ''Shut the f**k up''

This is one of the most recent incidents when India faced New Zealand away from home in a three-match Test series. Kohli had a below per New Zealand tour, failing to register any big runs against the Kiwis. Frustrated with his form and India's poor performance on the tour, the Indian skipper was seen yelling  "Shut the f**k up" to the Christchurch crowd after he pulled off a stunning catch to dismiss Kiwi batter, Henry Nicholls.

Nice ball from Shami, and great to see Virat endearing himself to the crowd again. #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/MkiFOqkeFN

— Bernie McNamara (@maxbert_SA) March 1, 2020

5. Kohli-Johnson spat in Melbourne Test

Back in 2014, a newly appointed Test skipper Virat Kohli got into a heated argument with Mitchell Johnson during India vs Australia Boxing Day Test match in Melbourne.

The entire fiasco happened when the Aussie pacer collected the ball and threw it straight back in his direction it came from to catch Kohli off-guard for a run out. However, the ball, instead of hitting the stumps, ended up catching Kohli on the back of his right leg which then led to a huge onfield argument between the players.