Sports Bulletin of December 27: From Australia Media Branding Virat Kohli As 'Clown' To Irfan Pathan-Sanjay Manjrekar Verbal Spat On Live TV

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From Australian media branding Virat Kohli as a 'clown' in India vs Australia 4th Test Day 2 to former India cricketers Irfan Pathan and Sanjay Manjrekar getting involved in a verbal spat, many things have unfolded in the sports world.

Former India captain grabbed all the headlines on a busy Friday (December 27) in the World of Sports. Here are the ten unmissable stories of the day.

1) Australian Media Brand Virat Kohli As 'Clown'

Australian media outlets were particularly harsh, with "The West Australian" labeling India star batter, Virat Kohli as "Clown Kohli" and depicting him with a clown's nose following his on-field confrontation with Aussie debutant with Sam Konstas and other preceding events, involving Indian players and the Australia media and also Kohli's public spat with a journalist at Melbourne airport.

2) Virat Kohli Confronts Aussie Fans After Dismissal On Day 2

As Virat Kohli made his way back to the pavilion following his dismissal at 36, a section of Australian fans jeered him with boos and taunting remarks. Clearly agitated, Kohli stopped in his tracks and shot a sharp, intimidating glare towards the crowd, expressing his frustration. The situation escalated briefly before security personnel intervened to calm things down and ensure order.

3) Irfan Pathan-Sanjay Manjrekar Verbal Spat On Live TV

A tense exchange broke out between former cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Irfan Pathan over Yashasvi Jaiswal's disastrous run-out during the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday. Pathan argued that Jaiswal erred by attempting a run after striking the ball firmly towards mid-on, while Manjrekar countered, blaming Kohli for committing a "basic mistake" by focusing on the ball instead of his batting partner.

The disagreement unfolded following the conclusion of the second day's play. Manjrekar, appearing virtually from India with his 3D hologram positioned beside Pathan's live feed from Melbourne, expressed frustration with the former pacer's remarks. The Mumbai-born commentator felt his points were being interrupted and sarcastically remarked, "Aap he boliye" (You speak instead), to Pathan, who also appeared unimpressed by the exchange.

4) India 164/5 At Stumps - Day 2

India found themselves struggling at 164/5 after losing three wickets in quick succession during the final session of Day 2 in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Trailing Australia by 310 runs, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli had earlier stitched together a valuable 102-run partnership for the third wicket. However, a disastrous communication error led to Jaiswal's dismissal on 82. Shortly after, Scott Boland dismissed Kohli for 36, and also accounted for nightwatchman Akash Deep, who departed without scoring.

Earlier in the day, India suffered a major setback just before Tea when KL Rahul, in excellent form, was dismissed, leaving the team precariously placed at 51/2. Captain Rohit Sharma, who moved back to the opening position, failed to make an impact, departing for a mere 3 runs.

On the other hand, Australia enjoyed a commanding start to the day, finishing their innings at 474. Steve Smith was the highlight, registering his 34th Test century during the morning session. The hosts piled on 143 runs in just 27 overs before the Lunch break, setting a daunting total for the Indian batting lineup.

5) Lionel Messi To Choose Man United over Man City? - Report

Amid ongoing transfer speculation linking Lionel Messi to Manchester City, recent coverage by The Athletic, referenced by the Daily Mirror, indicates that Messi found himself more drawn to the heritage and tradition of iconic football powerhouses like Manchester United than to the monetary influence wielded by clubs such as Manchester City.

6) Craig Ervine's Century Powers Zimbabwe To 471/7 On Day 2, Lunch

Ervine carried on from where he left off the previous day, reaching a well-deserved century of 104(176). Afghanistan's spinners struggled to find consistency, failing to maintain pressure as they frequently missed their mark. At Lunch, Zimbabwe were at 471/7 and pretty much well set for a 500+ score.

7) Arjun Erigaisi Tied Fifth After Opening Day Of World Rapid Chess Championship

Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi began his journey at the World Rapid Chess Championship on a strong note, securing four wins and suffering just one defeat to position himself in a tie for fifth place. Meanwhile, reigning champion Magnus Carlsen had a challenging day, managing to register only a single victory in New York.

8) Man United Drop To 14th In EPL Table, Coach Amorim Calls For 'Survival' Mode

Manchester United suffered another setback in the Premier League, falling to a 2-0 defeat against Wolves at Molineux on Boxing Day. The loss leaves new manager Ruben Amorim grappling with 14th place in the league table ahead of their final match of 2024 against Newcastle United on December 31.

This marked United's third consecutive loss across all competitions, adding to the mounting pressure on Amorim. Following the defeat, the Portuguese coach emphasized the need for the team to secure wins to buy time for refining their tactical approach. At the moment, he acknowledged, their primary focus is on finding a way to "survive."

9) Lukasz Fabianski In 'Good Spirits' After Horrific Collision During EPL Game

West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski had to be stretchered off during the Boxing Day clash against Southampton following a collision that required extensive treatment on the field.

Play was halted for more than seven minutes as medical staff attended to the Polish shot-stopper, who appeared to have been briefly unconscious. Later, West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui shared a positive update, stating that Fabianski was in "good spirits" and did not require a hospital visit as he was recovering well.

10) Simona Halep Withdraws From Australian Open

Two-time Grand Slam winner Simona Halep announced on Friday her withdrawal from the Australian Open qualifying rounds and a preparatory event in Auckland, citing discomfort in her knee and shoulder.

The former top-ranked player, aiming to make a comeback following a suspension for doping, had received a wildcard entry to compete in the qualifiers for the season's first Grand Slam at Melbourne Park next month.