Top 4 Virat Kohli send-offs

It is no secret that Virat Kohli is a fierce competitor. He loves to celebrate every wicket on the field. Sometimes, it even seems like Kohli himself has taken the wicket; that’s how much energy the Indian captain displays.

Kohli is always in the face of the opposition and is never shy of having a go at someone in the middle. He is surely one of the modern day greats and is currently one of the best batsmen in the world, but he is also ultra-aggressive and can come across as arrogant and brash.

Kohli has a bit of history with send-offs; he’s been given a few and he has given others a few. Here, we look at the top four send-offs that Kohli has given in his career so far:

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#4 India vs Australia, 3rd Test, Ranchi (2017)

Australia’s tour to India in February-March 2017 was a thoroughly engrossing one. Some excellent cricket was played throughout the series and there were quite a few controversies as well.

Australia surprised everyone when they thrashed India by 333 runs in Pune. But India came back from behind to win the second Test in Bengaluru. That second Test ended with Steve Smith’s ‘brain-fade’ comment - his explanation for looking towards the dressing room after being adjudged LBW.

In the third Test at Ranchi, in the second session on the first day, Kohli hurt himself while trying to prevent a boundary. He gave a chase from mid-on and dived to save the boundary but in the process landed awkwardly on his shoulder. Kohli went off the field and didn’t return for the rest of the innings.

In India’s innings, Glenn Maxwell put in a similar dive and saved a boundary. As he was coming back, he held his shoulder mocking Kohli. Smith and a few others also took jibes at the Indian captain when he was batting.

Australia trailed by 152 and needed to face about eight overs on the fourth evening. The Indian captain took the field despite his injury, and Ravindra Jadeja knocked over David Warner.

That was Kohli's cue; he gave Warner a send-off by continuously tapping his shoulder. The Indian captain never leaves anything unnoticed, and the jibes from the Aussies made Warner pay the price - being on the receiving end of a classic Kohli sledge.

#3 India vs England, 3rd Test, Mohali (2016)

After eking out a draw in the first Test of the five-match Test series, India won the second one to go 1-0 up.

On the first day of the third Test, Jadeja dismissed Ben Stokes for a 59-ball 29. Stokes on his way back had a word with Kohli, and the Indian captain didn’t shy away either. Stokes was later reprimanded and fined by the ICC for his verbal altercation with Kohli.

On the second day, Kohli looked like India’s standout batsman but Stokes dismissed him for 62 and roared before closing his mouth with his palm.

Kohli then gave it back to the Durham all-rounder in the second innings when Ashwin got the latter out LBW. The Indian skipper celebrated with his finger on the lips after Stokes was given out (on review).

#2 Australia vs India, 1st T20I, Adelaide (2016)

India lost the 2016 ODI series 1-4 to Australia. However, the last ODI which they won in Sydney changed the momentum, and they took that forward to the T20s.

Batting first, on the back of Kohli’s 90, India scored 188 in the first T20I. Australia then got off to a flier as they scored 82 in the first 8 overs. Steve Smith and Aaron Finch were batting well and the hosts looked well on course to chase down the target.

But in the 9th over, Smith edged one to covers where Kohli took a simple catch. And that's when India’s No. 3 gave Australia’s No. 3 a big send-off. With his hand, Kohli indicated that Smith had been chirping all this while, and then made a gesture showing Smith the way out.

The world criticized Kohli for the send-off but he later clarified that Smith was constantly having a go at the Indian bowlers. Kohli said, "I had no idea he had the mic on. He was sort of having a go at our junior bowlers; after hitting a boundary he was having a go at them. So I told the umpires to keep an eye (on the situation), otherwise, I would have to step in."

#1 England vs India, 1st Test, Edgbaston (2018)

India had won the T20I series and England had pulled it back in the ODI series. At the end of the deciding ODI, Joe Root scored a ton and a mic-drop celebration followed.

The first Test at Edgbaston started on a positive note for England. They seemed to be in control at 216/3 in the first innings. Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow had put on 100+ runs for the fourth wicket and it looked like India were in for a long day.

However, a terrific piece of fielding from Kohli saw Root run out; the Indian skipper hit the stumps directly to send the England skipper back to the pavilion.

Root was out for 80 and Kohli knew the importance of the wicket. He celebrated by blowing a few kisses and then mocking Root’s mic-drop celebration, before putting his finger on his lips.