Steve Waugh questions Virat Kohli on inciting the crowd

Since the end of the second Test, a war has been brewing on the social media between both sets of fans and former players. While the Australian media, former players, and fans have come out in support of Steve Smith after the DRS row and have questioned Kohli for sledging on the field, their Indian counterparts are firmly standing behind their skipper as well.

In India for a promotional event, Steve Waugh was questioned about the various issues surrounding what has been an enthralling series so far between the two sides. The former Australian skipper has said that he is not pleased about how Kohli has been trying to incite the crowd in the stands while the bowler is running in to deliver the ball.

So I think both captains need to have a bit of a chat at some stage and realise that they are going to play tough and it is full on in the middle but there is no point playing out these arguments in the press.

Waugh

“That is Virat Kohli and that is what you guys love about him (aggression) but there is a fine line between revving the crowd up when the bowler is running in. I don’t mind him revving the crowd up in between balls but not when the bowler is running in. There are a couple of issues from both teams on how the game is being played and right now it is on the edge,” Waugh said on the sidelines of a promotional event in New Delhi, reported the Indian Express.

The 51-year-old, who had made 168 Test appearances for his nation during his playing days, has also supported Steve Smith’s explanation for the DRS gaffe, insisting it was a “brain fade” moment and not premeditated. He said, “I have to go with Steve Smith when he says it was a brain fade and it wasn’t premeditated. So you have to take it at face value. The good thing about the whole incident was that the umpire stepped in and that is where it should have stopped. Smith would have learnt a lesson because obviously you cannot do that and it is not in the spirit of the game. It was an honest mistake.”

Virat Kohli stopped just short of terming Smith as a cheater in his press conference after the second Test, and Waugh feels that both the captains should have a chat about their issues instead of playing them out in the press.

“Those were strong comments from Kohli and while he didn’t say the word he was inferring it. I am not sure Smith would have enjoyed reading that statement. So I think both captains need to have a bit of a chat at some stage and realise that they are going to play tough and it is full on in the middle but there is no point playing out these arguments in the press,” Waugh added.