Mitchell Johnson criticizes Virat Kohli for initiating verbals in Perth Test

Dixit Bhargav | 17/12/2018
Mitchell Johnson criticizes Virat Kohli

Mitchell Johnson criticizes Virat Kohli: Former Australian spearhead seemed unhappy with the Indian captain’s actions.

Former Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson sounded unhappy as he criticized India captain Virat Kohli for not standing by his words.

Before the Test series had begun, Kohli had laid emphasis on him not needing to get involved in anything with the opposition or initiating something. Having said that, only into the second Test and Kohli was at the top of the verbal game as he was constantly seen in Australia captain Tim Paine’s ears.

While no line was crossed during the stoush, umpire Chris Gaffaney eventually had to interfere to make sure that the two captains stay within their limits.

The 37-year old didn’t anything wrong in the ‘battle’ but was of the opinion that Kohli should have stuck by his words. “I’ve had my battles. I’ve always enjoyed the battles out in the middle,” he was quoted as saying in an interview with Fox Sports.

“I think from Virat’s point of the view, being the captain, coming into this series saying that he wouldn’t initiate these kinds of stoushes. We saw a lot of that [initiation] yesterday when the [Indian] bowlers were doing well.

“Look, I don’t mind something like that but if you are going to say something like that in the paper or media and go against your word, you’ve got to expect something back in return. I still like the battle out there. It’s in good interest of the game. But Australia are in the top here,” Johnson added.

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Post Edited By: Dixit Bhargav
Mitchell Johnson Virat Kohli

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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