BCCI seeks ICC’s intervention after CA calls Kohli’s comments ‘outrageous’

Lehmann insisted that there had been no orchestration whatsoever, and went on to say that the Australian team had changed much in terms of attitude and on-field demeanour under Smith’s captaincy and the selection of a younger touring team to venture to India.

However, as Australian pacers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood wrecked havoc on the Indian batters after Smith took the second new ball. Is Steve Smith good example of leadership.

It meant the hosts were always playing catch-up in the game and Kohli said it was very hard to pull things back.

“For sure, until now this is the best one”, Kohli said.

In a fiery post-match press conference yesterday, Kohli had stated that he had twice seen Australians seeking help from the dressing room for DRS referrals.

It has precipitated a “major row over ethics in the Australian cricket camp”, says the Hindustan Times. “I have not seen this happen anywhere before”. “I pointed it out to the umpire as well and that’s why the umpire was at him”.

Responding to former Australia vice-captain Ian Healy’s comments on Virat Kohli losing respect in his eyes for his on-field antics, the India skipper on Tuesday said one individual’s comments do not make a difference to him. Whilehe deliberated whether to review the decision Smith turned toward his dressing room for help – a no-no – according to the rules.

The BCCI has already thrown its weight behind the Indian captain and they have released a statement clearly, states that the Board is standing behind captain Kohli after looking at the video footages from the match.

“Australia and India playing, there’s always emotions flying around and we get a little bit of white line fever every now and then”, Smith said. “But if something has been going on for three days, how can that be a “brain fade”?” he wondered.

“I don’t want to mention the word but it falls in that bracket, ” added a furious Kohli.Asked if he was accusing the Australian team of cheating, Kohli shot back, “I have not said that either”.

On-field sledging was a big topic before the series, with both teams led by demonstrative captains in Kohli and Smith.

“We take our decisions on the field ourselves”, said Kohli. Obviously, he asked Jadeja to keep it tight and 8-5-3-1 figures of the left-handed all rounder from Saurashtra is testimony of what Kohli can extract from his resources. Cameras captured Healy angrily throwing his bat upon entering the dressing room at Centurion.

The two sides have a long history of bad blood and Australia’s shock victory in the first Test, which ended India’s four-year 20-match unbeaten run on home soil, has only heightened tensions.