NEW DELHI: India’s star batter Virat Kohli was at his animated best on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, delivering stern instructions to his teammates during a tense first session.
Caught on the stump microphones, Kohli was heard telling pacer Mohammed Siraj, “Has ke baat nahi karna inse (Don’t smile while talking to them),” after Siraj exchanged words with Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne.
The incident followed Siraj’s interaction with Labuschagne in the middle of the pitch, an exchange that Kohli clearly found too cordial for the heated atmosphere of the Test match.
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Kohli’s fiery approach wasn’t the only tactical highlight from the Indian camp. Skipper Rohit Sharma was also heard instructing spinner Ravindra Jadeja to make the most of the surface. “Jaddu, ball bounce bhi ho raha hai, turn bhi ho raha hai,” Rohit remarked, urging his bowler to exploit the favorable conditions.
The charged moments came amidst Australia’s dominant performance in the morning session. Debutant opener Konstas himself stunned the Indian attack with a blistering 60 off 65 balls, propelling the hosts to 112 for 1 at lunch.
Kohli was also under scanner after his shoulder bump with the 19-year-old Konstas earlier in the session.
Kohli’s aggressive demeanor, coupled with India’s efforts to fight back against a confident Australian lineup, has set the tone for a fiercely competitive Test match at the MCG. Fans will be eager to see how the visitors respond in the coming sessions.
