5 times Virat Kohli gave it back to “nasty” Aussies in Border Gavaskar Trophy

Former India captain and Virat Kohli is one of the most aggressive batters of his generation. Back in the days when he captained the India Cricket Team, his aggression and demeanor were of a different level. Over his years while playing against Australia, Kohli has had his fair share of nasty moments. Here we take a close look at 5 such incidents that involved former India Cricket Team captain, Virat Kohli with the Australian Cricket Team.

Verbal Spat with Mitchell Johnson (2014-15)

There is bound to be friction when two hot heads collide headfirst. A massive heated exchange took place between Virat Kohli and Aussie pacer Mitchell Johnson in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne in 2014. The two players constantly went on to exchange heated words with one another throughout the innings.

Eventually, it was Virat Kohli who emerged as the winner. He went on to slam a magnificent ton to not only silence Mitchell Johnson but also silence the Melbourne crowd.

The battle that defines legends Kohli vs Johnson. Absolute blockbuster! 🔥pic.twitter.com/N0ZePkBXKr

— GBB Cricket (@gbb_cricket) November 12, 2024

Kohli vs Steve Smith and the DRS Controversy (2017)

The 2017 Bengaluru Test will be remembered for a long time regarding the Virat Kohli vs Steve Smith issue. The major controversy arose when Steve Smith reportedly sought guidance from the dressing room for a DRS decision. This saw a major feud between the then-two captains.

Virat Kohli openly criticized Australia and Virat Steve Smith for failing the spirit of the game. Kohli was brutal in press conferences slamming the opponent. This served as one of the major reasons for a strained relationship between the two sides.

DRS – Dressing room review system? Smith tries to get some suggestions from the dressing room for a review https://t.co/2V488WaKEp #INDvAUS

— BCCI (@BCCI) March 7, 2017

Flip off (2011-12)

Imagine playing his first tour of Australia and Kohli greeted the Syndey crowd with his unwavering middle finger salute. Virat Kohli was then the ever-aggressive young man, ready to take on any opposition. The Sydney crowd notoriously known to provoke and taunt the opposition tried out their antics with Kohli.

And, without any haste, Kohli went on to flip off the crowd which brought major criticism far and wide. Kohli was slapped with a hefty match fine for his antics.

Confrontation with Tim Paine (2018-19)

Captain vs Captain! Virat Kohli and Tim Paine had massive on-field exchanges during the 2018-19 Test series. The two players constantly went on to have heated exchanges throughout the series. The tipping point was reached during the Perth Test. Virat Kohli was spotted claiming “I’m the best player in the world and you’re just a stand-in captain.”

Animated Celebrations and Send-Offs (Various Matches)

It is no surprise that Virat Kohli is an animated character. And sometimes his celebrations often become over the top. Be it aggressive celebrations or celebrations, Kohli is a master of it. From sending off players to jeering and sledging, Kohli’s antics on the field are now known to one and all.