Virat Kohli is undoubtedly the best batsman right now in world cricket and it’s not just his batting but his overall commitment to the game makes him a delight to watch in the field. While on the field he makes news in almost every match for his performance but he makes news off the field too.
His aggressive nature is one of the most talked about subjects in the cricketing fraternity. Kohli never fails to give it back whenever the opposition tries to disrupt him. His competitiveness and passion make him a cricketer who carries the dream of over a billion people.
When asked about the reason for his aggression, Kohli said, “I grew up in the Delhi system and you have to fight for everything there so it was within me from the start.” From his on-field heroics to off-field controversies it is very much evident that the 27-year-old has already reached the status of a legend and whether you love or hate him, you just can’t ignore him.
Here we list out five instances when Virat Kohli proved you shouldn’t mess with him:
1) Virat Kohli silences James Faulkner
In this year’s ODI series against Australia Virat Kohli was very much in form as he smashed two centuries in the five-match series. His duel with James Faulkner was also one of the highlights of the tournament.
During the 3rd ODI at the MCG, while Kohli was batting, Faulkner in true Aussie spirit tried to increase the pressure on Kohli, as he told the 27-year-old Delhi batsman, “You tried to smash me there, but you failed.” He had earlier tried to shake Kohli up a little bit, after the third ball of the over, to which the Indian reacted by looking down and waving him away.
This time, however, Virat who was at the non-striker’s end had to respond to the Australian pacer. The stump mic caught Mr Dependable clearly saying, “I’ve smashed you enough in my life. Don’t waste your time, go bowl.” This time, Faulker had no response as he put his head down and walked back to his mark.
The very next over Kohli smashed 12 runs, including a huge six over mid-on, just to prove a point.
2) Kohli gets the crowd to take on Sohail Khan
The Indo-Pakistan rivalry is considered to be one of the fiercest in sport. Prior to these two heavyweights taking each other on in the ICC World Cup 2015, Sohail Khan took a jab at the 27-year-old Delhi batsman, commenting something along the lines that Kohli may be a lion but only in his own den.
However, Khan clarified his statement by saying, “Look, Virat Kohli is a top batsman for his country and he has always had my full respect for what he has achieved for India. However, once we are on the field, I forget all that. He has a bat in his hand to score runs for his team and I have a ball in mine to make sure he doesn’t. That’s all what I meant.”
The earlier comment was not forgotten by Kohli. When India faced their arch rivals, the Indian batsman not only answered the Pakistani attack with a century but when Khan came out to bat, Kohli started sledging the Pakistan bowler, who responded animatedly.
His reaction managed to get a laugher out of Virat Kohli who gestured the crowd to begin chanting and get louder. This enraged Sohail Khan further and eventually, the Pakistani captain, Misbah-ul-Haq had to come and pacify his fellow teammate.
3) Virat Kohli blows a kiss to Johnson
Virat Kohli had forged a 262-run-partnership with Ajinkya Rahane on the fourth day of a Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against Australia. Not only from the run-scoring perspective but his stand is also memorable for his response to the sledging from the Australian pacer, Mitchell Johnson.
During the course of the innings, Mitchell Johnson caught Virat Kohli off guard and threw the ball back at the stumps which struck the batsman's leg. Kohli took the hit but he stood tall. The 27-year-old walked towards Johnson and had a verbal exchange.
In the very same over, Kohli chose a perfect response for Johnson as he guided his delivery for a boundary. Not only that but he blew three flying kisses at the bowler, which surely must have infuriated him.
Later during the press conference, Kohli said "I respect a few of them but if someone doesn't respect me I've got no reason to respect them. They were calling me a spoilt brat.” He also added, “I said: ‘Maybe that’s the way I am - I know you guys hate me and I like that.’”
4) James Faulkner gets it again
After the saga of the 3rd ODI in Melbourne, India faced Australia at Canberra where Kohli delivered a stinging reply to Faulkner in the 4th ODI too.
Kohli had returned Australia’s aggression in kind on the tour, being one of the bright spots in a dire campaign. Faulkner decided to pick on Kohli in the 3rd ODI after bowling four consecutive dot balls to him – an act he must have regretted a number of times since then.
In the 4th ODI Kohli scored 29 runs from the 16 balls he faced from the Australian, which included four boundaries and a huge six over mid-wicket. He was seen pointing his bat towards the bowler and gesturing, however, both players had smiles on after the incident.
5) Kohli smashes Sri Lanka
India was chasing a massive 321 against their southern neighbours in a CB series match at Hobart and had to chase the total down in less than 40 overs to have a chance of securing a berth in the final match of the tournament.
The 'Men in Blue’ were given a brisk start by the opening duo of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. However, both the batsmen were back in the pavilion with the scoreboard at 86/2 when the 27-year-old Delhi batsman entered the scene.
Virat Kohli started off trying to forge a partnership with Gautam Gambhir by rotating the strike and soon completed his 50 from just 44 balls. Once he settled down and got a hang of how the pitch was behaving, he simply started to go for it.
Not only was he calm under the circumstances, Kohli ensured the required run rate never went out of India’s reach. The most staggering part of the Indian run-chase was the way in which he literally wrecked havoc on Lasith Malinga, one of the most dangerous bowlers in the limited overs format.
Kohli even scored 24 runs off a Lasith Malinga over and scored his ninth One Day International hundred. The pace with which Kohli scored towards the latter half of his innings was incredible to watch, as he went on to score his last 83 runs from just 42 balls.
India chased down the mammoth target in just 36.4 overs, scoring the final 91 runs in just 6.4 overs.
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