AUS v IND 2020-21: “Sad to see racial abuse happening; strict action needed against offenders,” says Virat Kohli

Kohli himself was subjected to jibes from the crowd on his first tour down under in 2011-12.

Siraj pointing towards the direction from where fans abused him | GettyIndia captain Virat Kohli has also opined about the ongoing racial abuse controversy in the Sydney Cricket Ground, where India and Australia are playing the third Test match of the four-match series.

Kohli, who came back to India on paternity leave after playing the first Test in Adelaide, was not happy with the proceedings and happening at the SCG.

Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah were abused by the crowd in the stands on day three and Siraj was further abused and allegedly called a brown dog, as per India Today's Boria Majumdar's tweet, after being hit for two sixes in an over by Cameron Green on the fourth day morning.

Siraj complained to the stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane, who then took up the issue with the umpires and had a long discussion. This led to the police officials in the stands to find the miscreant and a group of people were evicted from the SCG.

AUS v IND 2020-21: “It’s a shame,” says Australia coach Justin Langer on Indian players racially abused

Cricket Australia has offered an unreserved apology to the Indian team and started their own investigation into the matter.

On the other hand, Virat Kohli took to Twitter to register his disappointment with the unwanted abuse and tweeted, “Racial abuse is absolutely unacceptable. Having gone through many incidents of really pathetic things said on the boundary Iines, this is the absolute peak of rowdy behaviour. It's sad to see this happen on the field.”  

The incident needs to be looked at with absolute urgency and seriousness and strict action against the offenders should set things straight for once,” he added.

Interestingly, Kohli himself has experienced the rough Australian crowd during his first tour to Australia in 2011-12, where he infamously showed the middle finger to the jeering fans in the SCG stands.

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 10 Jan, 2021

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