- Virat Kohli riled up the SCG crowd with mocking gesture
- Eventful series is speeding towards a dramatic conclusion
Another controversial moment has occurred during the Australia vs India Test series with superstar Virat Kohli riling up the SCG crowd with a mocking gesture.
Australia require 91 runs to reclaim 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 fiendish SCG pitch.
An eventful series is speeding towards a dramatic conclusion on day three, after 30 wickets were taken in fewer than seven sessions of the decisive fifth Test.
Star batter, and stand-in captain, Kohli was spotted riling up the Aussie fans and mocking them about the Australian 2018 ball tampering scandal, also known as Sandpapergate.
The crowd was jeering Kohli before lunch break, so the Indian star decided to give it back.
Kohli proceeded to show the crowd his empty pockets to remind them of Australia cheating during the tour of South Africa in 2018.
Superstar Virat Kohli riled up the SCG crowd on Sunday during the fifth Test
Kohli mocked the Aussie crowd over the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal
Cricket fans responded quickly on social media.
‘Virat Kohli indicating no sandpaper with him by showing empty pockets to Australia crowd, this is absolute cinema,’ posted one fan.
‘Another desperate attention seeking attempt to cover his average of 26 in this series, Kohli now brings up the sandpaper incident this guy will do anything but contribute,’ replied another.
‘King Kohli on fire,’ replied a third.
India lasted fewer than 45 minutes on day three, losing their last four wickets for the addition of only 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 to Usman Khawaja in the slips for the ninth wicket around 40 minutes after the restart on Sunday.
Boland has made use of an atypically green SCG wicket, finding plenty of movement en route to 10 wickets for the game – and a headache for selectors ahead of the upcoming Sri Lanka tour.
The softly-spoken Victorian has never taken as many in a match during 13 Tests for Australia.
The star batter was jeered on Sunday and decided to give it back to the Aussie fans
The series is speeding towards a dramatic conclusion on day three
In encouraging signs for India, stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah managed to bat after leaving the SCG with back spasms on day two and sending a scare through the Indian camp.
He had little chance to showcase his movement, having gone for scans on Saturday; India’s innings was over when Boland bowled him after three deliveries.
India were into the bowlers only 10 minutes after play began on Jane McGrath Day, the pink crowd in raptures when Ravindra Jadeja clipped Pat Cummins to Alex Carey behind the stumps.
Captain Cummins (3-44) then collected Washington Sundar’s middle stump to signal the end was nigh 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 cricketing powerhouses.
A defeat would also leave Australia relying on results during their upcoming tour of Sri Lanka to confirm a spot in the World Test Championship Final over winter.
