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'What a disgrace': Cricket fans rage over 'shameful' Virat Kohli act

Virat Kohli, pictured here staying on the field despite being clean bowled by Moeen Ali.
Virat Kohli stayed on the field despite being clean bowled by Moeen Ali. Image: Star Sports

Moeen Ali stunned the cricket world on Saturday night with an incredible ball to dismiss Virat Kohli for a duck in the second Test between India and England.

But the one thing more incredible than the actual delivery was Kohli's reaction.

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Fans were left fuming on social media after the India captain refused to walk despite being clean bowled by Moeen's magical delivery.

Kohli attempted to push the ball through the covers but was left completely bamboozled when the ball spun back between bat and pad and crashed into the top of middle stump.

But despite the obvious dismissal, Kohli stuck around on the field and asked umpires to check what had happened.

Kohli may have believed that England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes removed the bails with his gloves, or that the ball had ricocheted back off Foakes and onto the stumps.

But he was left looking a bit sheepish when replays showed the ball had crashed straight into the stumps.

Cricket fans were far from impressed with Kohli's refusal to walk off the field, slamming the India captain on social media.

Cricket world raves over Moeen Ali delivery

After stumps on the first day's play in Chennai, fellow England spinner Jack Leech described Moeen's ball as "world class".

"It was great to see Moeen do that. It was world class. That was a world-class delivery," Leach told reporters.

"The ground went silent which is nice to do out here.

"It was my first experience of an Indian crowd and I have never heard noise like it when he (Kohli) came to the wicket. And then it went very quiet when he got out."

Virat Kohli, pictured here waiting for umpires to check his dismissal.
Virat Kohli waited for umpires to check his dismissal. Image: Star Sports

Moeen, who missed England's 2-0 sweep in Sri Lanka after catching COVID-19, and Leach claimed two wickets each on a day when England fought back in the final session.

Moeen replaced Dom Bess as one of four changes in the England XI from the opening win in the four-Test series and, Leach said, "got better and better as the day went on".

Leach took Rohit Sharma's wicket to break a 162-run fourth-wicket partnership with Ajinkya Rahane, who made 67.

Leach said partnerships count and England will be looking to do the same in their reply.

"As you saw with Rohit Sharma and Rahane, that once you get a partnership going with that older ball it can get a little bit easier," said Leach.

"So we have to certainly believe that we can do the same when we come to bat."

"Rohit played a serious knock. He is obviously a world-class player," said Leach. "I didn't enjoy it, but he obviously batted well."

with AFP

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