5 times Virat Kohli had an on-field altercation with the opposition

A passionate cricketer with talent to match, Virat Kohli has essayed a number of match-winning innings with the bat, especially in the recent past, with his form elevating his game to a different level. Not someone to back away from a fight, Kohli has been involved in a number of on-field spats, sometimes going overboard with his aggression. Here’s a list of five incidents, when Virat Kohli got into a fight with players from the opposition:

Kohli vs Steven Smith (2014)

Due to MS Dhoni’s unavailability, Kohli was captaining the side on India’s tour to Australia in 2014, and was involved in an on-field argument while fielding in the first Test. The incident took place on day four when Rohit Sharma was delivering his part-time off-spin, with Steven Smith on 18 and David Warner on an exact 100. Rohit appealed for a leg-before, which was turned down by the umpire. Smith had something to say to the bowler, which didn’t go down too well with Kohli, who was fielding at first slip.

He came in and expressed his displeasure to Smith, with the stump-mic catching him asking the batsman to “stay within his limits”. The umpires, as well as David Warner, had to intervene, and requested the players to take their respective positions. The chit-chat continued even after Kohli went back to his slip, with Ian Gould standing next to him and quelling the simmering tension.

Kohli vs Rubel Hossain (2011)

Rubel Hossain gestures at Kohli after picking up his wicket in the 2015 World Cup

Playing his first World Cup, Virat Kohli scored a century in his first game against Bangladesh as India stacked up a huge score batting first. Kohli defended a ball back to Rubel Hossain, who gathered the ball in his follow-through and stared at Kohli. The batsman retaliated with a mouthful, dishing out the choicest of expletives, the gist of which was requesting the bowler to go back and bowl.

Hossain later conceded that he and Kohli had a history of spats which went back to the U-19 World Cup in 2008. The two were involved in another heated argument then, which was quelled only after the on-field umpires intervened.

Kohli vs Gautam Gambhir (2013)

Gambhir and Kohli had an ugly spat during an IPL match in 2013

Hailing from the same state, Gambhir and Kohli have played Ranji together for Delhi. In the initial part of his career, Kohli forged a number of partnerships in the middle order with Gambhir, especially the 224-run stand that took the team past Sri Lanka at Kolkata. Yet, an ugly spat between the two during an IPL match between the Royal Challengers and Kolkata Knight Riders left a bad taste in the fans’ mouths.

Kohli skied a catch to sweeper cover in the tenth over, following which Gambhir, and the rest of the players converged to the middle. After an exchange of remarks between the duo, Gambhir was seen leaving his huddle and charging towards Kohli, who had held his ground at short cover instead of trudging back.

It was Rajat Bhatia, another Delhi boy, who jumped in the middle to thwart any possibility of a fight, even as the players and umpires joined him to cool the tension.

Kohli vs Australian fielders (2012)

Ricky Ponting had to restrain Kohli after he had a heated exchange with the fielders.

Sent on the tour to Australia with little experience of playing the longest format, Kohli played a sensational knock at Adelaide, even as the rest failed, to bring up his maiden ton. However, on 99, he almost ran himself out in search of the landmark single. The mix-up was followed by a throw that just missed his target, and a flustered Kohli was seen having heated exchanges with the fielders upon getting on his feet.

This time, Ricky Ponting had to intervene and calm Kohli down, who pointed his bat at the fielders and kept exchanging remarks. Kohli went on to score the ton and vented out his angst in the celebrations that followed.

Kohli vs Mitchell Johnson (2014)

Kohli and Johnson had a lot to say to each other throughout India’s tour in 2014

Virat Kohli and Mitchell Johnson have had a history of arguments and jibes that continued till the World T20 clash earlier this year. It started in late 2014, when Kohli was in red-hot form, and had a fiery Johnson for competition from the other side. With Kohli on 84, Johnson collected a defence in his follow-through and hurled the ball back at Kohli, which hit him on the leg. Later, Kohli hit a streaky four through the slip cordon, following which a riled-up Johnson had something to say to the batsman, who retaliated, and another exchange followed.

While Johnson went back to his fielding place after the end of the over, Kohli had still hadn’t cooled down, and was seen having a heated chat with the umpires.