Virat Kohli won hearts all around the world when he stopped the Indian crowd from calling Steve Smith a cheat during the India vs Australia match
Virat Kohli
Team India were on top of their game against the current World Cup holders Australia on Sunday. Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma gave India a 100+ run opening stand after which Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya and Dhoni launched in the death overs. Indian bowlers also did their job to eventually snatch a 36-run win against their arch-rivals.
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But in the midst of all this, one gesture by Indian captain Virat Kohli has won hearts all over the world.
During Virat Kohli's gritty 82-run knock, former Australian captain, Steve Smith, who was banned for a year from cricket for ball-tampering, was fielding at the boundary in front of a vociferous Indian crowd.
The Indian crowd was giving a hard time to Steve Smith, by calling him a cheat and booing him while the play was on.
This is what leadership & sportsmanship looks like: Indian captain @imVkohli tells Indian fans to applaud Steve Smith rather than boo him pic.twitter.com/cBZpjJZppJ
— Justin Stevens (@_JustinStevens_) June 10, 2019
This did not go down well with Virat Kohli and as soon as the over was done, Virat Kohli walked towards the Indian fans and told them to stop booing him and applaud instead.
A relieved Steve Smith was seen later thanking Virat Kohli for the gesture.
Virat Kohli later in the post-match press conference said that 'It is unacceptable' for the crowd to boo Steve Smith:
“If I was in a position where something had happened with me, and I’d apologised and accepted it, and came back and still I would get booed, I wouldn’t like it either.”#ViratKohli on why he asked the fans to stop booing Steve Smith. #CWC19 | #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/CIMicjoSA0
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 9, 2019
Twitter was abuzz with Virat Kohli's golden gesture and this is how she reacted:
@imVkohli The definition of gentle in the 'gentleman's game' has changed over the years. the image of the game has been tarnished over the past couple of decades. However, there have been moment when Virat kohli have stood up for what is right #SteveSmith pic.twitter.com/wIAsNB2Au2
— Harshit Dhakre (@dhakre_harshit) June 9, 2019
Hats off to #ViratKohli ðu00c2u009fu00c2u0099u00c2u008f
— Shashank Singh (@deshbhakt2663) June 10, 2019
Yesterday he gave another example of why cricket is a true gentleman game âu00c2u009d¤ï¸u00c2u008fðu00c2u009fu00c2u0098u00c2u008a
Proud of you bro for showing true sportsmanship ðu00c2u009fu00c2u0099u00c2u008fðu00c2u009f¤u00c2u0097#ViratKohli on why he asked the fans to stop booing Steve Smith. #CWC19 | #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/T1meFJeDE8
What a Brilliant Gesture From #ViratKohli
— $Praveen (@Praveen27586829) June 10, 2019
Asks Indian Fans to Stop Booing Steve Smith & Cheer For him..
True Sportsman spirit.
You won a Million Hearts Today. pic.twitter.com/PmnM9CmqPy
Tnq ViratKohli By SteveSmith Fansâu00c2u009cu00c2u008cï¸u00c2u008f#CWC19 pic.twitter.com/AxD3PXE2V1
— /MoH@m€d\ [A@®iF] (@J30Kumar) June 10, 2019
Australian Fans after Seeing Kohli supporting Smith -#ViratKohli #SteveSmith . pic.twitter.com/EOFODqwqRZ
— NeeraJ. (@AjeebPrani) June 10, 2019
Virat Kohli on why he asked crowd to stop chanting at Steve Smith.
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) June 9, 2019
“He didn’t do anything to be booed. With so many Indians in the crowd I didn’t want them to set a bad example. I asked sorry to him on behalf of the crowd"
Respect! Indian captain ðu00c2u009fu00c2u0092u00c2u0099
I thought nothing will top Virat-Dhoni moment but this was the moment of the match for me. Absolute class by Virat Kohli, asking fans to clap for Steve Smith #INDvAUS #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/YCimZ3viBS
— Saurabh (@Boomrah_) June 9, 2019
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