3rd Test: Sunil Gavaskar questions Virat Kohli's on-field behaviour

Mohali, Nov 28: Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar was not impressed with the on-field behaviour of skipper Virat Kohli during the 3rd Test against England at the IS Bindra Stadium. (Ashwin-Jadeja-Jayant set record)

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Kohli, who is known to display his emotions on the field and play the game aggressively, gave a send-off to England batsman Ben Stokes (29 runs) after he was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja, with Parthiv Patel effecting a stumping, on the first day (November 26).

Soon after the dismissal, the Indian players celebrated and Kohli appeared to have said something to Stokes.

Later after the day's play on Saturday, Stokes was given an official reprimand by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for using offensive language but Kohli escaped.

Yesterday (November 27), Stokes got Kohli's wicket for 62, caught by wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, but did not celebrate in a big way, choosing restraint, closing his mouth with his hands.

However, Kohli's behaviour on the first day of the Test after Stokes' dismissal, was not liked by Gavaskar, who was doing commentary for BBC's "Test Match Special".

"Whatever was said, it really needs to be nipped in the bud. You have got the batsman out, why do you need to give him a send off?" Gavaskar said.

"Why say anything? Just congratulate your team-mates and Parthiv Patel for a fine piece of work on his comeback. But why say anything to the batsman? He's upset as it is. Then what, rub salt into the wounds? It's the one part of cricket I do not approve of at all," he added.

When the incident happened, Bairstow was at the non-striker's end but he explained that he could not make out what was said by the players.

"I didn't actually hear anything, because there are a lot of squealing people in the crowds. I couldn't (tell you) the exact words that were said.

"It's something that's probably going more out of the game, verbals and things like that. If you go back 10 years it was a bigger part of the game. But I think you've also got to respect you've got guys out there who are very passionate, representing their country in the heat of battle.

"At some point, there are going to be words said. That's the nature of professional sport. But I don't know what was said. I don't really get too involved with all that kind of stuff," Bairstow was quoted as saying by the British media.

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