Virat Kohli and Steve Smith have been involved in some bitter battles on the cricket field but the India captain’s class act at The Oval on Sunday is bound to win him some hearts back in Australia.
As India took on defending champions Australia in the biggest match of the 2019 World Cup on Sunday and sent their bowlers on a leather chase around The Oval, Smith was sent to field near the boundary. Immediately after, Smith copped a few chants and boos from the fans closeby.
Steve Smith and David Warner were banned for a year over their roles in the ball-tampering scandal which erupted in Cape Town last year. Both men returned to the Indian Premier League in 2019 to play for their respective teams and were selected for the World Cup.
In England, Steve Smith was booed when he hit a hundred during a warm-up match. Against West Indies, Smith was booed once again when he raised his bat to celebrate a fifty.
However, Virat Kohli showed his classy side when he asked a section of the crowd to stop the cheater chants at Steve Smith. Kohli instead asked the crowd to clap for Smith.
When India fans started getting stuck into @stevesmith49, here's how #ViratKohli responded to them.
ICC (@ICC) June 9, 2019
And here's the reaction from the Australian!
Absolute class! #SpiritOfCrickethttps://t.co/2gMOtR6lQZ
[#SpiritOfCricket] @imVkohli turned to the stand where Steve Smith was fielding in the deep & gestured the fans to cheer for him when he saw them booing Steve in a hideous manner. (Credits: @SamLandsberger) @BCCI @ICC @cricketworldcup #ViratKohli #TeamIndia #CWC19 #VGVK18FC pic.twitter.com/8Mjad9W4Ys
ViratGang (@ViratGang) June 9, 2019
Not surprisingly, Virat Kohli’s action was lauded on social media.
Wow. How good is this from Virat Kohli? Steve Smith is sent to field on the boundary, and immediately cops the most hideous boos from the Indian fans. So Kohli turns to that stand and gestures for them to clap Smith. #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/GBTPaolOXh
Sam Landsberger (@SamLandsberger) June 9, 2019
Steve Smith was booed again when he walked out to bat after Australia lost skipper Aaron Finch to a run out.
After winning the toss at The Oval, India decided to bat and posted a record 352 for 5 off their 50 overs. Shikhar Dhawan top-scored with 117 while Virat Kohli smashed 82. Rohit Sharma hit 57 and Hardik Pandya hammered a quick 48.
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