Virat Kohli sledged and abused Bangladesh batsmen in a youth game, reveals Rubel Hossain
Bangladesh pacer Rubel Hossain, in an Instagram chat with his teammates, recalled how a young Virat Kohli, in a youth tri-nation game, sledged and abused his opponents, to the point where the umpire had to intervene. Rubel, however, feels that Kohli has now considerably toned down his aggression.
A controversial figure who often displays extensive aggression with his actions - and also with the ball in his hand - Rubel Hossain made his international debut in 2009 and since, has continued to remain an integral part of Bangladesh’s limited-overs set-up, even featuring in the 2019 World Cup for the Tigers. His moment of fame, however, came in a 2011 World Cup match against India, after a then 22-year-old Kohli was caught on camera hurling expletives at the Bangladeshi pacer, the video of which has since gone viral on social media platforms.
A fiery competitor himself, Rubel, in an Instagram chat with teammates Tamim Iqbal and Taskin Ahmed, interestingly revealed that the 2011 encounter against India was not the first time that he found himself at the receiving end of a few harsh words from Kohli. The 30-year-old recalled a youth tri-nation match against India, where Kohli allegedly abused Bangladesh batsmen and found himself in an altercation with Rubel before the umpire intervened to stop the ruckus.
“There was a match in South Africa, in a tri-national tournament. He was sledging a lot, abusing our batters. We know how it is. I had an altercation with him and the umpire had to intervene,” Rubel said on Instagram Live, reported Hindustan Times.
The pacer, who has played 155 international games for Bangladesh, stated that he has had a history with Kohli since the Under-19 days, but went on to admit that the Indian skipper has now considerably toned down his aggression, in comparison to the days of the past.
“I have played against Virat Kohli since our U-19 days. So I have had things going on with him from our U-19 days. During the U-19 days, he used to sledge a lot. Now it may not be that much.”