Virat Kohli makes offensive gesture at Aussie supporters as another cricket controversy strikes at the SCG
- Virat Kohli sent the SCG crowd into a frenzy with a mocking gesture
- Eventful series are approaching a dramatic end
Another controversial moment took place during the Australia vs India Test series, with superstar Virat Kohli inciting the SCG crowd with a mocking gesture.
Australia need 91 runs to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade after Scott Boland completed a six-wicket haul as India were bowled out on a diabolical SCG pitch.
An eventful series rushes to a dramatic conclusion on day three after 30 wickets were taken in less than seven sessions of the decisive fifth Test.
Star batsman and stand-in captain Kohli was seen riling up the Australian fans and taunting them over the 2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, also known as Sandpapergate.
The crowd was booing Kohli before the lunch break, so the Indian star decided to give it back.
Kohli then showed the crowd his empty pockets to remind them that Australia cheated during the 2018 tour of South Africa.
Superstar Virat Kohli sent the SCG crowd into a frenzy during the fifth Test on Sunday
Kohli mocked the Australian public over the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal
Cricket fans were quick to respond on social media.
“Virat Kohli showed he didn’t have sandpaper by showing empty pockets to the Australian audience, this is absolute cinema,” said a fan.
‘Another desperate attention-seeking attempt to reach his average of 26 in this series. Kohli is now bringing up the sandpaper incident that this man will be anything but contributing,” replied another.
“King Kohli is on fire,” a third replied.
India lasted less than 45 minutes on day three and lost their last four wickets by adding just 16 runs and a total of 157 – 161 runs ahead of Australia.
Back-up paceman Boland (6-45) confirmed the second five-fer of his Test career when Mohammad Siraj edged him at slip to Usman Khawaja for the ninth wicket about 40 minutes after the restart on Sunday.
Boland has taken advantage of an atypically green SCG wicket, finding plenty of movement on his way to 10 wickets for the match – and a headache for the selectors ahead of the upcoming Sri Lanka tour.
The softly spoken Victorian has never won so much in a match during 13 tests for Australia.
The star batsman was laughed at on Sunday and decided to give it back to the Australian fans
The series rushes towards a dramatic conclusion on day three
In an encouraging sign for India, stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah managed to get going after leaving the SCG on day two with back spasms and sending a scare through the Indian camp.
He had little chance to show off his movements as he had gone for scans on Saturday; India’s innings was over when Boland bowled him after three deliveries.
India were involved with the bowlers just 10 minutes after play started on Jane McGrath Day, the pink crowd in raptures as Ravindra Jadeja Pat Cummins clipped to Alex Carey behind the stumps.
Captain Cummins (3-44) then collected Washington Sundar’s middle stump to signal the end was near for the tourists.
Should Australia lose in Sydney, India will draw the series 2-2 and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having won the last four Test series between the two cricket powerhouses.
Defeat would also see Australia relying on results on their upcoming tour of Sri Lanka to confirm a place in the World Test Championship final in the winter.