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Recall Virat Kohli’s most controversial and fiery moments in red-ball cricket, while he donned the whites for India.
Virat Kohli scored 7 double centuries for Team India in Tests.
In an era increasingly consumed by white-ball fireworks, Virat Kohli made red-ball cricket personal. He didn’t just play the game—he lived it, fiercely, publicly, unapologetically. His controversies were not footnotes; they were emotional chapters in a story that millions felt part of.
Love him or hate him, Kohli in whites never left you indifferent. And in that, perhaps, lies his greatest legacy—not just runs or wins, but in unforgettable moments and emotions.
Let us recall some of his most controversial and fiery moments on the field, while he donned the whites for India:
The 2012 Sydney Middle-Finger Controversy
Kohli’s first major brush with controversy in Test cricket came during the 2011-12 tour of Australia. At the SCG, while fielding on the boundary, he was subjected to relentless verbal abuse and sledging from the Australian crowd.
Unable to contain his anger, Kohli responded by showing the middle finger—an act caught on camera and condemned widely. The ICC fined him 50% of his match fee. Kohli, unrepentant, later justified his action, stating that abuse from the crowd had crossed a line.
The 2014 Adelaide War: Passion Meets Provocation
In the wake of MS Dhoni’s absence, Kohli took charge as India’s Test captain for the first time during the Adelaide Test against Australia. The match, remembered for its emotional context following the death of Phillip Hughes, was also filled with fiery exchanges.
Kohli clashed on-field with players like Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin after being struck by bouncers and provoked by sledges. Instead of crumbling, Kohli responded with twin centuries and led India’s aggressive fight.
Post-match, he boldly declared, “I respect a few of them, but I have no reason to respect anyone who doesn’t respect me.”
The 2017 DRS and Steve Smith ‘Cheating’ Saga
Arguably, the most explosive controversy of Kohli’s Test career came in 2017 during the second Test against Australia in Bengaluru.
Australian captain Steve Smith, after being given out LBW, looked up to the dressing room for assistance in making a DRS decision—something strictly prohibited. Kohli furiously called out the incident, accusing the Australian team of “systematic cheating.” Smith tried to pass it off as a “brain fade”, but Kohli didn’t budge, stating this wasn’t a one-time mistake.
The controversy escalated into a diplomatic spat between the cricket boards, with Kohli even stating that he would not consider Australian players as friends any longer.
Lord’s Test Heroics and Hostilities – 2021
The 2021 Lord’s Test against England was perhaps Kohli’s most iconic as a leader. The match was tense, physical, and emotional. Kohli led from the front with unrelenting aggression.
After Bumrah’s hostile spell to Anderson, England responded with sledging, but Kohli countered it with ferocious energy. His frequent words to the English batsmen, especially Jos Buttler and Ollie Robinson, added to the drama.
India’s turnaround on the final day, bowling England out and winning the match, was hailed as a masterclass in mental warfare—and Kohli’s intensity was at the heart of it.
The James Anderson Rivalry – 2014 and 2018
Kohli’s duel with English pace legend James Anderson is the stuff of modern cricket legend. During the 2014 England tour, Anderson repeatedly dismissed Kohli, exposing a technical vulnerability and triggering a media storm over his form. Kohli remained composed off-field but was visibly fired up throughout the series.
Fast-forward to 2018, and a transformed Kohli returned to England with a vengeance, amassing 593 runs in the series and dominating Anderson. Their on-field battles were often tense, with several verbal exchanges and pointed celebrations from Kohli, who even gave Anderson a dramatic send-off after taking a catch off his bowling.
The DRS Stump Mic Outburst – Cape Town, 2022
Another one of Kohli’s most controversial/fiery moments came during the South Africa tour in January 2022. After a DRS decision went against India in Cape Town, Kohli and a few teammates approached the stump mic and openly criticized the host broadcaster, SuperSport.
Kohli’s remarks, “Focus on your team as well when they shine the ball… not just the opposition,” suggested foul play or manipulation. The ICC refrained from punishing Kohli, but several experts, including Sunil Gavaskar and Michael Vaughan, condemned his behavior as excessive and out of place.
The ‘Mic Drop’ Against England – Edgbaston, 2018
In the first Test of India’s 2018 England tour at Edgbaston, Kohli added a touch of theatrical revenge.
After Joe Root’s famous “mic drop” celebration in a previous ODI, Kohli mimicked the gesture upon running out Root. While it was done in jest, it sparked headlines and social media reactions, reflecting Kohli’s fondness for dramatic expression.
He later claimed it was playful banter, but the message behind the act was unmistakable—it was personal.
Rubbing Shoulders With Sam Konstas – Australia, 2024
In what felt like one of the last echoes of his fierce on-field persona, Virat Kohli stirred up nostalgia during the 2024 Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Late in the first session, he had a tense shoulder brush and exchange with 19-year-old debutant Sam Konstas—an incident that momentarily transported fans back to Kohli’s peak years of raw, unfiltered passion.
There was fire in the glare, the words, the body language. The ICC handed him a mild sanction, but the moment lingered more for its symbolism than its severity.
Later, the two shared a quiet post-match chat, with Konstas calling Kohli “a lovely person” and “a legend of the game.” It felt like the passing of a torch—one generation’s intensity meeting the next’s humility, wrapped in mutual respect.
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