'They're not aware of it': Virat Kohli called out over controversial act
Virat Kohli has come under fire for his running between the wickets following Australia's 36-run loss to hosts India on Friday night.
India defeated Australia on Friday night, which marked Australia's first loss of the summer when they were all out for 314, and set up a decider for the three-match series in Bangalore on Sunday.
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But many fans became perturbed during the match watching Kohli run down the middle of the pitch without warning, which David Warner recently came under fire for against New Zealand.
Kohli appeared to run through the danger zone between the 42nd and 43rd over, but his teammate Ravindra Jadeja was handed a warning later on for the same action.
This frustrated commentator Michael Slater, who pointed out Australia needed to bat on the pitch in the second innings.
“Just seeing how he navigates the two, for me that is very much on the pitch, and that is definitely on the pitch,” he said when Ashton Agar was bowling to the ODI master.
“If I’m an umpire I’m watching that and I’m just telling him to get off a surface that the opposition have got to bat on later.”
The next over, Kohli was again seen in the danger zone and Slater once again turned to the umpires.
“It’s as though they’re not aware of it. The third umpire should be taking note and just sending a message,” he said on Fox Sports commentary.
Fans on social media also slammed the umpire for not taking action.
Match referee Virat Kohli has decided not to impose a 5 run penalty on India for running on the pitch.
— disappointment (@lazyesque) January 17, 2020
Shane warne's curse twice he called that Virat kohli running on middle of the pitch, umpires should talk with him, warn him... But Virat may be fined for that.... #INDvAUS
— Anup Mahapatra (@am_i_anup) January 17, 2020
@Viratkohli running in the middle of the pitch on various occasion in last few overs he faced, where is the game of spirit now🥇, and funniest part is @harshabhogle007 almost tried to ignore the issue 👏🏼👏🏼
— Mohsin Iqbal (@mohsiniqballo) January 17, 2020
@imVkohli running down the middle of the pitch trying to scuff it up shows how much of a belter it is
— Lyndsay Packer (@talldude610) January 17, 2020
How does @imVkohli get away with running down the middle of the pitch more then once. Yet everyone else gets warned and penalised even @imjadeja was warned.
— Paul Thoroughgood (@paulmaudib) January 17, 2020
Australia were docked five runs during their recent Test match against New Zealand for Warner running down the danger zone of the pitch.
India tie series
The series is all locked up at 1-1 after a tidy display from India on Friday night.
If Australia win, history - as the first touring team to win back-to-back ODI series in India in more than a decade - beckons.
For that to happen, they'll likely need more of the same from Smith and Labuschagne, who led Australia's innings on Friday with a 96-run third-wicket stand.
Smith played brilliantly for his 98.
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He drove the ball neatly, swept powerfully in front of square and was still as good off his legs as ever.
After David Warner was caught one handed by Manish Pandey on 15 and Aaron Finch controversially stumped for 33, Smith steadied the ship.
Meanwhile Labuschagne's 48 doesn't read as a big total in the scorebook, but it will be the way he went about things that will please selectors.
He was busy at the crease, facing only 16 dots in his 47-ball knock as he got right to work when he arrived with Australia needing more than seven an over.
After a summer of big Test runs as a red-ball specialist, Lauschagne showed there's no reason why he and Smith can't form a duo as No.3 and No.4 for the next World Cup cycle.
"We know he's in terrific form, he's been batting beautifully, but transferring that into one-day cricket now is another thing," Smith said of Labuschagne.
"He was really busy, we were going at a reasonable rate, we were going at around six an over there for a while.
"I thought he looked exceptionally good tonight. He hit the gaps hard, ran hard between the wickets and played some nice shots."
Alex Carey also looks like he'll rise up to No.5 long-term after proving his worth as a batsman in last year's World Cup.
He hit 18 off 17 on Friday, but fell as part of a horror over for Australia where Steve Smith dragged one on trying to cut Kuldeep Yadav moments later.
But from there, the game was gone, with Australia's lower middle order still a work in progress.
"We timed our chase pretty well when we lose three wickets in between 30 and 40 overs, it halts the ability to be able to go and try and get ten an over," Smith said.
"I would've liked to have batted a bit longer and been there in the happy hour."
Runs will be crucial again on Sunday with Bangalore expected to be flat, setting up another high-scoring game.
That will be the last thing bowlers want to hear after a Rajkot wicket that offered very little.
Legspinner Adam Zampa took three wickets - including Virat Kohli on 78 for a seventh time in international cricket - but it was tough going for the rest.
Mitchell Starc had the second-worst return of his career with 0-78, while Kane Richardson had 2-73.
Ashton Agar also finished with 0-63 from eight overs as Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan hit 96 and KL Rahul 80 in the run-scoring spree.
With AAP
