[imagesource: Twitter / @frontFootPuller]

Virat Kohli is a fierce competitor who hates losing and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Part of being an international captain, though, is playing the so-called gentleman’s game in the right spirit, and yesterday showed that Virat and his teammates have a lot to learn in that department.

The drama really started when Proteas skipper Dean Elgar was given out LBW by Marais Erasmus and reviewed the decision more out of hope than anything else.

Replays showed that he looked pretty plumb but then DRS revealed the ball was passing just over the stumps.

Cue a meltdown by India, who were already up against it as Elgar and Keegan Petersen battled bravely, and allegations of cheating being made against the DRS system and host broadcaster SuperSport.

First of all, the DRS decision:

The bounce of the pitch – a significant factor in Dean Elgar’s successful review.#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/GI2rXjgjwd

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) January 13, 2022

This meant Erasmus had to overturn his decision and the Indians were fuming.

You can hear Ravi Ashwin talking into the stump mic and saying “You should find better ways to win, SuperSport” toward the end of this clip:

pic.twitter.com/MRnPViICuL

— Addicric (@addicric) January 13, 2022

One more time:

Did Ravi Ashwin have words with the Super Sport technicians there, after that overturned lbw? #savind pic.twitter.com/OKAqCsSTPR

— simon hughes (@theanalyst) January 13, 2022

Kohli himself then had a go at the stump mic, saying “Focus on your team while they shine the ball. Not just the opposition. Trying to catch people all the time.”

KL Rahul, the vice-captain, chimed in with “It’s the whole country against 11 guys.”

pic.twitter.com/0iPdXThQzB

— Addicric (@addicric) January 13, 2022

Yes, that’s how overseas tours usually work, KL.

Even before the contentions review, Kohli and the Indian team had been very vocal in sledging Elgar:

GOLD pic.twitter.com/2OGy2EKqvp

— Benaam Baadshah (@BenaamBaadshah4) January 14, 2022

Funny how DRS was working fine when Kohli was given not out caught behind after Snicko showed a little movement as the ball passed his bat in the first innings.

Also, Indians moaning about tough luck when the BCCI basically runs the sport is farcical. It’s rumoured that India only agreed to this tour on the basis that spectators weren’t allowed in, ostensibly due to COVID-19 risks but really to minimise any home advantage the Proteas may have gained.

Will there be any repercussions? We wait to see but my guess is it’s unlikely there will be anything more than a rap on the knuckles.

Curious to see the ICC’s reaction to a captain using the stumps as a microphone to lambaste an entire country for a decision that went against his team.

— Derek Alberts (@derekalberts1) January 13, 2022

Or, put another way:

Kagiso Rabada was punished for ‘bringing the game into disrepute’ when he expressed massive competitive emotion in a shout, that’s it. India’s team collectively insinuated a nation is deep-cheating multiple times without evidence, and we know that nothing will happen to them

— Dan Corder 🎙 5FM Breakfast (@DanCorderOnAir) January 13, 2022

After the day’s play, Indian bowling coach Paras Mhambrey spoke with Cricinfo:

“We saw it, you saw it. I’ll leave that for the match referee to have a look at it. There’s nothing I can comment on it now. We’ve seen it all, just want to move on with the game now.”

When asked if the Indian players were suggesting the broadcasters were manipulating the images, Mhambrey said, “Every individual out here is trying his best. Sometimes in a moment like this, people do say certain things. It’s a game. I think it’s fair we just move on. Everyone is trying their best. Emotions do come into play sometimes.”

Sure, we accused the host nation of cheating but just move on. Nothing to see here.

Lungi Ngidi hit the nail on the head when he was pressed for comment:

“Reactions like that show a bit of frustration and sometimes teams capitalise on that. You never want to show so much emotion, but we could see emotions were high. That tells us they are feeling a little bit of pressure.”

Shaun Pollock pointed out that DRS is run by an independent body rather than the broadcaster.

Watch from the 1:20 mark:

Was it the right decision? 🤔

Shaun Pollock and Sunil Gavaskar discuss the use of hawkeye after Umpire adjudged Dean Elgar out lbw but reversed his decision as the tracking technology showed the ball going over the wicket… pic.twitter.com/k9w9ajisE1

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) January 13, 2022

Ultimately, if roles were reversed and it was Kohli given a reprieve in that situation I would be disappointed because it looked out.

I would also expect my team to conduct itself with a little more grace than shouting accusations of cheating into the stump mic.

There can be no better revenge than knocking off the 111 runs required today for victory and taking the series win.

We don’t bat deep so let’s hope and pray our top six can get the bulk of the runs.

[source:cricinfo]