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  • Australia vs India, Boxing Day Test: Sunil Gavaskar defends Virat Kohli’s fine: Can’t hang a man for picking a pocket

    Australia vs India, Boxing Day Test: Sunil Gavaskar defends Virat Kohli’s fine: Can’t hang a man for picking a pocket


    Legendary Sunil Gavaskar reiterated his stance against Virat Kohli shouldering Sam Konstas on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test, but said there were no favours done to the superstar cricketer in terms of the fine that was handed to him by the International Cricket Committee. Gavaskar quoted instances of players getting similar sanctions for physical contact on the field, stressing that protocols were followed in Kohli’s case as well.

    Speculation was rife that Virat Kohli would be handed a one-match ban for shouldering 19-year-old Sam Konstas at the MCG in a heated on-field moment. However, Kohli escaped a suspension and was fined 20 percent of his match fee. Match referee Andy Pycroft charged him for Level 1 offence, the lowest level of punishment for physical contact on the field.

    A section of the Australian media, however, hit out against the governing body, accusing it of being lenient towards Virat Kohli. Former cricketers Ricky Ponting and Mark Waugh lashed out at the authorities for not handing Kohli a harsher punishment for the Boxing Day act.

    “Yes, you would say that the punishment may be light, considering the experience that he has had. But, that’s the maximum punishment that is decided by the ICC, He has not been done any favour,” Sunil Gavaskar told Star Sports.

    “If, for example, the fine was 10 percent, then you could have said ‘ah, he has been done a favour’. But, the fine for a Level 1 offence is maximum a 20 percent. I am not 100 percent on that, but I am given to understand that there is one demerit point and a fine. That’s the maximum allowed, that’s what has been levied on him.

    “No special favours have been done to him. You can’t hang a man for picking someone’s picket. That’s what the Australian media is asking for.

    “The Australian media think they got away because he is Kohli. But, that is not the thing,” he added.

    Virat Kohli was handed a demerit point for the offence. It was the former captain’s first ICC sanction since 2019.

    GAVASKAR CITES PREVIOUS INSTANCES

    Gavaskar highlighted how Ireland fast bowler Josh Little and Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah received similar fines for making deliberate physical contact with opposition players in the last 12 months.

    While Josh Little was handed a 15 per cent match fee for making contact with Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza in a T20I game in Harare last year, Bumrah was just reprimanded for physical contact with England batter Ollie Pope in a Test match earlier this year.

    “I know in this particular year, there have been four such incidents in which there have been fines. Last December, Ireland bowler Josh Little was fined 15 percent for a physical contact with a batter, a Level 1 offence. In that game, Andy Pycrot was the match referee.

    “Jasprit Bumrah was also reprimanded for Lavel 1 physical contact for physical contact with England’s Ollie Pope,” Gavsakar said.

    Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

    Published By:

    Akshay Ramesh

    Published On:

    Dec 27, 2024



    The recent controversy surrounding Virat Kohli’s fine for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India has sparked a heated debate among cricket fans. While many have criticized Kohli for his actions, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has come to his defense.

    In a recent interview, Gavaskar stated, “I think the fine imposed on Virat Kohli was a bit harsh. Yes, he may have crossed the line with his behavior on the field, but let’s not forget that he is a passionate and competitive player who always gives his 100% on the field. Sometimes emotions can get the better of us, and I believe that we shouldn’t be too quick to judge or condemn someone for a momentary lapse in judgment.”

    Gavaskar went on to compare Kohli’s actions to that of picking a pocket, stating, “We can’t hang a man for picking a pocket. Similarly, we shouldn’t crucify Kohli for a minor infraction during a high-pressure Test match. Let’s not forget that he is one of the best cricketers in the world and has done a lot for Indian cricket. We should focus on supporting him and helping him learn from this experience.”

    It’s clear that opinions are divided on this issue, but Gavaskar’s words serve as a reminder that athletes are human too and can make mistakes. Let’s hope that Kohli can learn from this incident and continue to lead the Indian team with the same passion and determination that has made him a cricketing legend.

    Tags:

    Australia vs India, Boxing Day Test, Sunil Gavaskar, Virat Kohli, fine, defending, controversy, cricket, match, sports, India cricket team, Australia cricket team, test match, player discipline, sportsmanship.

    #Australia #India #Boxing #Day #Test #Sunil #Gavaskar #defends #Virat #Kohlis #fine #hang #man #picking #pocket

  • Virat Kohli grabs headlines again with his gesture for Steve Smith after Australia batter equals Gavaskar, Lara in MCG

    Virat Kohli grabs headlines again with his gesture for Steve Smith after Australia batter equals Gavaskar, Lara in MCG


    Dec 27, 2024 10:11 AM IST

    Virat Kohli walked towards Steve Smith to congratulate the Australia batter after he scored his 34th test century in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

    Virat Kohli may have hogged the limelight at the start of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for all the wrong reasons but he began Day 2 on a good note. A day after being heavily criticised by fans and former cricketers for his shoulder barge to 19-year-old Australian debutant Sam Konstas, Kohli showed a brilliant gesture for Australia’s star batter, Steve Smith, on Friday. When Smith drove Nitish Kumar Reddy through the covers for a boundary to get to his 34th Test century, Kohli immediately started applauding. The former India captain patiently waited for Smith to soak in the adulation from the big crowd. Then, he slowly moved towards him and patted him on his back.

    Virat Kohli walked towards Steve Smith to congratulate the Australia batter after he scored his 34th test century

    Kohli and Smith go back a long way. The duo started their careers at the U19 level in the World Cup in Malaysia in 2008, and since then, their bond has only grown stronger and stronger. Kohli’s gesture for Smith in the 2019 ODI World Cup, asking the crowd not to boo the Australian batter, earned the ICC Fair Play award that year. Smith, on the other hand, has always rated Kohli as one of the greatest all-format platters to have ever played the game.

    Steve Smith puts Australia on top

    Kohli, who received a 20% fine and a demerit point for breaching the ICC’s Code of Conduct, was not the only one congratulating Smith, who equalled Sunil Gavaskar, Brian Lara, Younis Khan, and Mahela Jayawardene with his 34th Test ton. KL Rahul was also seen applauding the innings.

    Smith also went past Virat Kohli to become the batter with most centuries in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This was Kohli’s 11th Test century against India, also the most by any batter.

    The former Australia captain, who announced a return to form with a century in the third Test Brisbane, continued his love affair with the MCG, scoring is fifth Test century at the venue.

    Smith was unfortunate to be dismissed for 140 when he charged down the track and inside-edged the ball onto his pads, and the ball somehow found its way back to the stumps. But his knock had ensured Australia reached a commanding first total of 474 after opting to bat first in the all-important fourth Test of this series.

    In reply, India lost captain Rohit Sharma early and Pat Cummins produced a jaffer to clean bowled KL Rahul right at the stroke of Tea to put the tourists under real pressure.

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    Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket team captain, once again showed his sportsmanship and respect for the game as he made headlines with his gesture towards Australian batter Steve Smith after Smith equalled the records of Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Lara at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

    Smith’s century at the MCG brought him level with Gavaskar and Lara for the most number of centuries at a single venue in Test cricket. As Smith celebrated his achievement, Kohli was seen applauding and congratulating him, showing his appreciation for the talented batsman’s accomplishment.

    This gesture from Kohli, known for his fierce competitiveness on the field, highlights the camaraderie and mutual respect that exists among top cricketers. It also serves as a reminder of the spirit of sportsmanship that transcends national boundaries and rivalries.

    Fans and fellow cricketers alike have praised Kohli for his show of respect towards Smith, with many taking to social media to commend the Indian captain for his sportsmanlike conduct. Kohli’s gesture once again solidifies his reputation as a role model in the world of cricket, both on and off the field.

    Tags:

    1. Virat Kohli
    2. Steve Smith
    3. Gavaskar
    4. Lara
    5. MCG
    6. Cricket
    7. Sportsmanship
    8. Gesture
    9. Australia
    10. Headlines

    #Virat #Kohli #grabs #headlines #gesture #Steve #Smith #Australia #batter #equals #Gavaskar #Lara #MCG

  • Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar Rip Into Rohit Sharma’s Captaincy Over 4th Test Tactics

    Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar Rip Into Rohit Sharma’s Captaincy Over 4th Test Tactics





    India captain Rohit Sharma continues to court criticism over his baffling strategy and selection calls in the Melbourne Test. Since announcing the return of Washington Sundar to India’s playing XI for the Boxing Day Test — which came at the cost of Shubman Gill — Rohit has had his decision-making questioned time and again. Be it the use of his bowlers, or match-ups used against different Australian batters, Rohit struggled to get the best out of India’s bowling attack for the first two days. Some of his decisions received public criticism from legends like Suni Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri.

    During his commentary stint on Day 2 of the Melbourne Test, Shastri questioned both Rohit and head coach Gambhir over the decision to add 2 spinners to the playing XI as they didn’t show the required trust in them.

    “Why did you take 2 spinners if you had to bowl them after 40 overs? In Melbourne, spinners should always bowl in 1 or 1 and a half overs. I didn’t understand why Jadeja and Sundar bowled after 40 overs,” Shastri wondered.

    The former India head coach also felt that the team should’ve started with Bumrah on Day 2 but he came in to bowl the third over.

    “India should’ve started with Bumrah but Siraj bowled the first over. With SIraj’s confidence being low, it’s important to handle him well,” he asserted.

    Shastri questioned not just Rohit’s bowling changes but also his field placements.

    He said: “You see, Mitchell Starc has come and you have long on and long off fielders. At least put one of them up.”

    Sunil Gavaskar was also livid upon seeing India’s bowling performance in the middle. Barring Jasprit Bumrah, no India pacer managed to step up. Gavaskar said that the new ball was ‘wasted’ by India’s pacers.

    “Pretty ordinary blowing. If you have to bowl a bouncer, you get it around the helmet’s badge and not around the waist. I’m very disappointed, I’m sorry. This new ball has been wasted. Aakash Deep has been all over the place. He has wasted the new ball by bowling way outside off stump. The Indians have also been sloppy in the field,” the original Little Master said on commentary.

    Later, Rohit also decided to open the batting for India, pushing the in-form KL Rahul down the order. But, the skipper departed after making just 3 runs.

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    Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar Rip Into Rohit Sharma’s Captaincy Over 4th Test Tactics

    In a scathing critique of Rohit Sharma’s captaincy during the recently concluded 4th Test against South Africa, former cricketers Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar did not hold back in expressing their disappointment with the Indian skipper’s tactics.

    Shastri, who had previously coached the Indian team, lambasted Sharma for his lack of aggression and innovative thinking on the field. “Rohit Sharma seemed lost at times during the 4th Test. His field placements were unimaginative, and he failed to inspire his bowlers to take wickets when needed. This is not the kind of leadership we expect from the captain of the Indian team,” Shastri said.

    Gavaskar also expressed his disappointment with Sharma’s captaincy, particularly his decision-making during crucial moments of the match. “Rohit Sharma’s defensive mindset cost India dearly in the 4th Test. He seemed content to let the game drift instead of seizing the initiative and putting pressure on the South African batsmen. As a captain, you need to be proactive and make bold decisions, which Rohit failed to do,” Gavaskar remarked.

    The criticism from Shastri and Gavaskar comes at a time when Sharma is under increasing scrutiny for his captaincy skills, with many questioning whether he is the right man to lead the Indian team in the long term. It remains to be seen how Sharma responds to this criticism and whether he can silence his detractors with improved performances in the future.

    Tags:

    Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, Rohit Sharma, Captaincy, 4th Test, Tactics, Cricket, Indian cricket team, Criticism, Analysis, Leadership, Sportsmanship.

    #Ravi #Shastri #Sunil #Gavaskar #Rip #Rohit #Sharmas #Captaincy #4th #Test #Tactics

  • “India didn’t had Plan B or Plan C against Australia on Day 1”: Sunil Gavaskar roasts team management for mediocre bowling

    “India didn’t had Plan B or Plan C against Australia on Day 1”: Sunil Gavaskar roasts team management for mediocre bowling


    Jasprit Bumrah once again rescued Team India from a tough situation in the ongoing Test series against Australia. In what could have been a disastrous day for the visitors, the speedster took three wickets to give some momentum to the team. Usman Khawaja gifted his wicket to the bowler when he hit a slightly short ball straight into the hands of KL Rahul.

    Travis Head, who has been unstoppable in the series so far, got a peach of a delivery from the pacer and was clean-bowled for a duck. Mitchell Marsh didn’t last long and became Jasprit’s third victim of the day.

    Steve Smith was nearing his second consecutive hundred of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with Australia finishing the day at 311/6. Sam Konstas (60), Usman Khawaja (57), and Marnus Labuschagne (72) were magnificent with the bat.

    Sunil Gavaskar didn’t like the way Indian bowlers and even questioned Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. “It seems the moment Sam Konstas hit the bowlers for runs, Rohit ran out of ideas. The bowlers didn’t look like they were bowling without a plan, and the team didn’t have Plan B or Plan C. They were just going on like that and allowed several partnerships to grow that put Australia ahead in the game,’ he said.

    Mohammed Siraj’s economy was over four, while Bumrah, Aakas Deep, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar conceded runs at an economy rate of above three. The series is levelled at 1-1 after three Tests, and the outcome of the Boxing Day Test could decide the winner.



    Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar did not hold back in his criticism of the Indian team management’s lack of planning against Australia on Day 1 of the test match. In a scathing assessment, Gavaskar pointed out that India did not have a Plan B or Plan C in place for their bowling attack, leading to a mediocre performance on the field.

    Gavaskar highlighted the fact that the Indian bowlers failed to adapt to the conditions and the Australian batting line-up, allowing the hosts to dominate proceedings throughout the day. He expressed his disappointment with the team management for not having a contingency plan in place to counter the Australian batsmen effectively.

    The lack of strategic thinking and proactive decision-making from the Indian camp was evident as Australia piled on the runs, with the bowlers struggling to make an impact. Gavaskar emphasized the importance of having multiple plans in place to deal with different scenarios in a match, especially against a strong opposition like Australia.

    Overall, Gavaskar’s comments serve as a wake-up call for the Indian team management to reassess their tactics and approach in order to bounce back in the remaining days of the test match. India will need to regroup and come up with a solid game plan to turn the tide in their favor against Australia.

    Tags:

    India vs Australia, Sunil Gavaskar, cricket news, Day 1, team management, bowling performance, Plan B, Plan C, India cricket, Sunil Gavaskar commentary, sports news

    #India #didnt #Plan #Plan #Australia #Day #Sunil #Gavaskar #roasts #team #management #mediocre #bowling

  • ‘What’s the point of playing them if you don’t trust them?’: Shastri, Gavaskar lambast Rohit Sharma, India bowlers

    ‘What’s the point of playing them if you don’t trust them?’: Shastri, Gavaskar lambast Rohit Sharma, India bowlers


    Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar and former India head coach Ravi Shastri minced no words in calling out India’s poor performance in the first session on Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne. Gavaskar said India’s fast bowler Akash Deep, who started the proceedings along with Mohammed Siraj on Friday, “wasted the (second) new ball”. A resurgent Steve Smith crunched his second century in as many Tests as Australia built a daunting total. Captain Pat Cummins also played his part with a quickfire 49 as Australia reached 454/7 at Lunch on Day 2.

    India’s Virat Kohli (L) speaks with teammates Rohit Sharma (C) and Rishabh Pant (R)(AFP)

    In the morning session, the hosts scored 143 runs in 27 overs at the loss of just one wicket. Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah looked tired and jaded, while captain Rohit Sharma lacked ideas as Steve Smith and Cummins took the game away from India.

    Gavaskar slammed Akash Deep for bowling loose deliveries to Cummins and giving away easy boundaries. “Pretty ordinary blowing. If you have to bowl a bouncer, you get it around the helmet’s badge and not around the waist. I’m very disappointed, I’m sorry. This new ball has been wasted. Aakash Deep has been all over the place. He has wasted the new ball by bowling way outside off stump. The Indians have also been sloppy in the field,” he said on commentary.

    Shastri slams Rohit Sharma’s captaincy

    Ravi Shastri criticised Rohit Sharma’s captaincy and asked why he picked two spinners when they were not going to be used properly.

    “India ran out of ideas. Bowling was pretty ordinary. Spin wasn’t used as much as it should have. It took 40 overs for Sundar to bowl. Why did you play two spinners? What was the need if you don’t trust them?” he asked in the post-Lunch show on Star Sports.

    Smith padded up again on 68, with Cummins alongside him on eight.

    The veteran batsman showed his intent early with a four from Jasprit Bumrah, while Cummins also batted with freedom, not afraid to play his shots.

    They took 15 off one Akash Deep over to bring up their 50-run partnership before Smith hooked Bumrah for six to rub salt in the wounds.

    India’s body language showed their frustration as the Test slipped away on a benign pitch, offering them little.

    Smith reached his 34th Test century with a boundary off Nitish Kumar Reddy, which came on the back of a return to form at the last Test in Brisbane where he made 101.

    It was a patient innings from the 35-year-old and moved him alongside four other players on the all-list of century-makers, including Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Lara.

    Only six players have scored more, led by Sachin Tendulkar’s 51.



    Former Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri and legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar have criticized vice-captain Rohit Sharma and the Indian bowlers for their lack of trust in each other during the ongoing Test series against England.

    In a recent interview, Shastri expressed his disappointment at the lack of faith shown by Rohit Sharma in the Indian bowlers, especially in the field placements and bowling changes. He stated, “What’s the point of playing them if you don’t trust them? Rohit needs to show more confidence in the bowlers and let them do their job.”

    Gavaskar echoed Shastri’s sentiments, pointing out the importance of trust and communication between the captain and the bowlers. He said, “It’s crucial for the captain to have faith in his bowlers and back them up. Without trust, the team cannot perform at its best.”

    Both Shastri and Gavaskar emphasized the need for Rohit Sharma to work on his leadership skills and build a strong bond with the bowlers to ensure success on the field. They urged the vice-captain to trust his teammates and work together as a cohesive unit to overcome the challenges posed by the English team.

    As the Indian team gears up for the upcoming matches in the series, it remains to be seen whether Rohit Sharma and the bowlers can address these concerns and come together to deliver a strong performance on the field. Trust and communication will be key factors in determining the team’s success in the remaining matches against England.

    Tags:

    1. Shastri Gavaskar Rohit Sharma controversy
    2. India cricket team trust issues
    3. Shastri Gavaskar criticism Rohit Sharma
    4. Indian bowlers performance review
    5. Cricket news updates
    6. Team India trust dynamics
    7. Shastri Gavaskar debate on Rohit Sharma
    8. Indian cricket team leadership concerns
    9. Rohit Sharma captaincy debate
    10. Cricket analysis and opinions

    #Whats #point #playing #dont #trust #Shastri #Gavaskar #lambast #Rohit #Sharma #India #bowlers