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Virat Kohli under fire over 'pathetic' act after rival's century

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·5-min read
Virat Kohli (pictured left) arguing with Jonny Bairstow and (pictured right) Kohli gesturing towards the batter.
Virat Kohli (pictured right) has been criticised for his behaviour after sending Jonny Bairstow off with with a sledge, which was after their altercation during the Test match. (Images: Twitter/Getty Images)

The cricket world has called out Virat Kholi after his gesture towards centurion Jonny Bairstow sparked strong criticism on the third day against England.

India tightened their grip on the rearranged fifth Test against England, with an overall lead of 257 and seven wickets in hand, despite Bairstow's belligerent hundred on the third day at Edgbaston.

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A charged-up Bairstow smashed a rapid 106 on Sunday, his third hundred in four innings, providing the bedrock for England's 284 all out in reply to India's 416.

The tourists then reached 3-125 at stumps in their second innings with the dour Cheteshwar Pujara (50) and the daredevil Rishabh Pant (30) in the middle.

However, it was former captain Kohli's reaction to Bairstow's dismissal that didn't sit well with purists of the game.

An on-field altercation with Kohli appeared to fire up Bairstow who played some breathtaking shots to rescue England.

Kohli eventually took the catch at slip to dismiss the in-form batter after he had made a century.

However, Kohli decided to send Bairstow to the stands after blowing a kiss towards the Englishman.

The gesture certainly angered cricket fans.

Many pointed out that Kohli doesn't currently have the ammunition to sledge Bairstow, who is in a rich run of form, having struggled for runs himself lately.

Others said it crossed the line after such a beautiful innings from Bairstow.

While India are in control of the Test match, Bairstow has certainly outshone his rival with Kohli dismissed for just 20 later in the day.

England fight as India take control

Ben Stokes was dropped twice in the morning session but the England captain could not capitalise on the reprieves and departed for 25.

Stokes, on 18, came dancing down the track to Mohammed Shami and offered a skier which Shardul Thakur floored at cover.

Thakur suffered Shami's agony when Jasprit Bumrah dropped a sitter at mid-off to give Stokes another let-off.

Bumrah immediately redeemed himself, however, by taking a stunning diving catch when Stokes repeated the cavalier shot to Thakur's next delivery.

Bairstow refused to retreat into his shell and continued to attack the bowlers as he did in the home series against New Zealand last month.

His superb touch was best illustrated when he pulled Mohammed Siraj from outside the off-stump for the first of his two sixes.

Virat Kohli (pictured) walks back to the pavilion after being dismissed.
Virat Kohli (pictured) is struggling for runs in Test cricket. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images) (Visionhaus via Getty Images)

A bowling change finally did the trick for India and Shami dismissed Bairstow who slashed hard at a wide delivery and Kohli took a sharp catch at first slip.

Sam Billings made 36 down the order but England still fell short of the 300-mark and conceded a lead of 132.

Siraj claimed 4-66 for India while Bumrah returned figures of 3-68.

James Anderson removed Shubman Gill in the first over and Stuart Broad got rid of Hanuma Vihari but Pujara dug in his heels to frustrate England when India came out to bat.

Kohli (20) unfurled some silken drives before being done in by the extra bounce generated by Stokes.

Billings had spilled the catch but an alert Joe Root grabbed the ball before it could hit the ground.

Pant, whose rapid 146 put India in the box seat, was more restrained in the second innings.

with AAP

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