Virat Kohli Termed Cheater By Wankhede Fans
After Booed by fans at the Wankhede Stadium after a controversial run-out incident during RCB's match against the Mumbai Indians in Mumbai on Saturday night, Furious Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli said IPL fans tend to forget that he competes for India as well and their jeering can end up creating "hatred among the players". The incident happened in the 18th over of the Mumbai Indians Batting when K Pollard hit a ball off Vinay Kumar straight to Kohli at extra cover & a direct throw from Kohli took the stumps away at striking end, Rayudu was looking to get back in the crease after taking a start, Vinay was in the way though, as he was backing away from the stumps to collect the throw, Rayudu's bat is lifted off the ground after it collides with Vinay's leg, the RCB team appealed & he hasn't made it back into the crease and was given out.
Kohli was jeered several times after he appealed for the run-out. The visitors asked for the third umpire's decision, which went in their favour. This agitated the crowd and they booed Kohli calling him a "cheat". Although home team Mumbai beat RCB by 58 runs. The 24-year-old continued to face the crowd's ire when he came onto bat and even during the post-match presentation. "As far as the crowd is concerned, it has happened to a few players in the past as well. I don't know why they get so worked up during IPL. IPL is not the end of the world. And they forget that the players they are booing for also play for their country," a livid Kohli said after the match. "It is only creating hatred among the players. When I come back and play for India, they are going to cheer for me. It doesn't work that way. You come to Bangalore and you see how Indian players are appreciated," he added. Kohli said he could not understand the crowd behaviour at the Wankhede. "...I don't know what is wrong with people in this venue. It feels a bit weird because at the end of the day you play for India and you don't come here to be hated. Whoever wins or loses, in any of the games, you come to Bangalore, every captain is cheered, every Indian player is cheered. "People appreciate good cricket. I don't know why people have so much aggression and so much hatred towards other teams in this particular venue. As I said, IPL is not the end of the world," Kohli said in the post-match media conference. On the run-out incident, Kohli explained, "Well, it is very important to have knowledge of cricket. If it was any intentional interruption from the bowler then the umpire would have stopped the batsman. "It is his job, not mine. The umpire told me it was there. The bowler didn't see the batsman and the batsman didn't see the bowler, and they collided. It was perfectly fine to be honest," he said. "You should have that much cricket awareness to see where the bowler is coming back to his mark. He has to back up when there is no one behind him." he added. Dwayne Smith, player of the game from Mumbai's side refused to get drawn into the debate and merely said, "It was a case of fair play but you can't do anything about it. They decided to go against it."Read more...
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