Virat Kohli is 'cricket's ultimate bully': Aussie media criticises India skipper over DRS row

New Delhi, March 9: Just before start of the Test series between India and Australia, former Aussie cricketer Mike Hussey said Virat Kohli is public enemy number one from an Australian point of view.

BCCI backs Virat Kohli " title="CA defends Steve Smith; BCCI backs Virat Kohli " />CA defends Steve Smith; BCCI backs Virat Kohli

After the dramatic conclusion to the Bengaluru Test, Kohli just seemed to have lived up to Hussey's expectations. (DRS row: Gavaskar slams ICC)

Virat Kohli is 'cricket's ultimate bully': Aussie media criticises India skipper over DRS row

The 28-year-old India batsman is not liked by the Australians after the second Test match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy came to an end. Kohli attacked Smith for violating rules by trying to seek dressing room's opinion for DRS.

Smith had gestured towards the dressing room to seek a clue on whether to go for a referral or not after he was trapped LBW by pacer Umesh Yadav in the second Test, which Australia lost by 75 runs on Tuesday (March 7).

(Team India unchanged for remaining two Tests sans Hardik Pandya)

The war of words between Kohli and Australian side after Steve Smith's controversial 'brain fade' moment over DRS has become a highlight of the ongoing Test series.

An outspoken Kohli didn't shy away from embarrassing Smith for his on-field action and his allegation against Smith triggered a fresh round of spar between the two boards.

If BCCI appealed the ICC to take cognizance of Kohli's allegations and take action against Smith, Cricket Australia defended their skipper terming the accusations against him as 'outrageous'.

The ICC, meanwhile, has decided to not take any actions against either side.

The Australian media too joined their cricket board and stood in unison with the CA in supporting Smith. Almost every media house in Australia is becoming critical of Kohli and his aggressive intent. A newspaper went on calling him 'cricket's ultimate bully'.

This is how India skipper Virat Kohli is being targetted by the Australian papers:

Herald Sun:

A headline in the Herald Sun described the Indian skipper as "cricket's ultimate bully". It went on attacking the Indian skipper for criticising Steve Smith.

The news daily also attacked the ICC for not penalising the BCCI for its actions.

The Australian

A report published in 'The Australian' talked about war of words flaring cricket again.

The report in The Australian said: "Cricket Australia chief launches an extraordinary attack on Indian skipper Virat Kohli, as strained relations explode again."

The paper also came up with an opinion over DRS row with a title "Killing the spirit of cricket?"

Now DRS has become Frankenstein: The Age

Kohli discovered a newfound respect for politeness when declining to use the C-word. But he said as much when alleging that Australia used changing room support twice while he was batting: which is some accusation, given the brevity of Kohli's innings.

Teams have slyly tried to manipulate DRS ever since it was introduced, and the Indians' outrage is merely a product of their recent exposure to the system. England have done it, Australia have done it, and to say it's just not cricket is to forget what Test teams have been up to since 1877.

The report went on concluding, "Did the Australians cheat on DRS? Yes, but it's a sideshow. Did Kohli overstep the boundaries of on-field aggression? Yes, but it's a sideshow. Did the officiating malfunction?

Yes, and all these sideshows make for cricket's endless capacity to provoke discussion. The real game is between bat and ball, and it is on in earnest now."

The Sydney Morning Herald

A headline in The Sydney Morning Herald said, "Kohli all but accuses Australia of cheating after epic Indian Test win".

Writer Andrew Wu said in the paper that the result of the match was "overshadowed by Kohli's post-match bombshell where he accused Australia of consulting their dressing room over DRS while batting and in the field".

The "relations between the two sides are now at its lowest point since the Monkeygate scandal of 2007-08, said the report.

Cricket Australia defends Smith

Firmly backing Steve Smith, Cricket Australia on Wednesday (March 8) said questioning his integrity is "outrageous" and there was no "ill-intent" in the captain's move of seeking dressing room help for a controversial DRS call during the second Test against India.

OneIndia News