Virat Kohli Slammed by Finch, Katich Over Shoulder Charge, Sandpaper Jibe

Virat Kohli Slammed by Finch: Except for a quite inconspicuous stint of batting in the series, Virat Kohli did not wade through the voltage of the media during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as he found himself under the brunt of provoking the Australian press, especially in all five games of the series.

This continued right through to the final day of the series, Kohli making a few heads turn by visibly and dramatically checking through his pockets in reference to the infamous sandpaper gate incident in 2018.

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Kohli bore the brunt of criticism from some of the former Australian players for his "rude" behavior, which included this and his bump of Sam Konstas on the teenager's debut-an event much aired in Australia. Former Australian white ball captain and RCB mate of Kohli, Aaron Finch, weighed in on the subject on ESPN's Around the Wicket show following the series.

“It was just a level of frustration. I said last week it seemed as though he wanted to find conflict and confrontation – that's where he generally plays his best cricket,” explained Finch. “So he just went overboard on this tour.”

According to Finch, Kohli's behaviour meant to have found some way in form, “The bump, that was above and beyond anything I've seen on a field, and then the sandpaper, unnecessary,” he continued. “But overall, I think he was trying to find something to ignite a fire in himself, but just wasn't up to it."

'You have to question what sort of headspace he's been in.....'

Former Australian batter Simon Katich also had some opinion regarding Kohli's actions, adding on to Finch by saying “I think you have to question what sort of headspace he's been in on this tour to be doing that, making physical contact in Melbourne and then even the other unsavoury incident in Sydney with the sandpaper reference there with the pockets.”

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Katich, who was part of RCB coaching between 2019-21, said that how Kohli could bring it up at the tail end of a long tour for almost seven years after the incident first happened and added that Kohli has harmed his own image. "I mean that in itself – there was no need for that. It's old news so in a way I think he's tarnished his reputation somewhat on this tour, on and off the field."

Even as these two had joined in the long line of those who condemned Kohli, quite a few had started to defend him, citing that Australian players engage in all such sorts of behaviour freely without reproach but were beginning to create a fuss when Kohli fired back.

Kohli wasn't at his peak, scoring only 190 runs in this entire series, albeit he will be looking to regain his optimum touch as India gear up for the ICC Champions Trophy in preparations for their best format-50 over cricket.

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