It was a quiet BGT 2024 series for Virat Kohli, who, despite an unbeaten century in the first Test in Perth, could only muster a total of 190 runs in 9 innings as India lost the series 1-3. However, Kohli still managed to find himself in the eye of the storm when it came to provoking the Australian media, in particular.
This lasted until the final day of the series, when Kohli raised some feathers by clearly and passionately checking his pockets, echoing the infamous sandpaper gate incident in 2018.
Some previous Australian players were upset with Kohli's behavior, particularly his shoulder barge of Sam Konstas on the teenager's debut in Melbourne, which dominated Australian media coverage.
Former Australia white-ball captain and ex-RCB player Aaron Finch said that Kohli’s behavior was because it showed frustration on the part of the visiting team.
“It was just a level of frustration. I said last week it seemed as though he wanted to find conflict and confrontation—that's where he generally plays his best cricket. So he just went overboard on this tour.
The bump, that was above and beyond anything I've seen on a field, and then the sandpaper, unnecessary. But overall, I think he was trying to find something to ignite a fire in himself but just wasn't up to it,” Finch said on ESPN’s Around the Wicket show.
Former Australian batter Simon Katich, who was also associated with the RCB franchise and Kohli, had some thoughts regarding Kohli’s actions.
“I think you have to question what sort of headspace he's been in on this tour to be doing that, making physical contact in Melbourne and then even the other unsavory incident in Sydney with the sandpaper reference there with the pockets,” Katich said.
Katich questioned why Kohli brought it up at the end of a long tour, nearly seven years after the incident occurred, and claimed that Kohli harmed his own image.
"I mean that in itself—there was no need for that. It's old news, so in a way I think he's tarnished his reputation somewhat on this tour, on and off the field,” Katich concluded.
Virat Kohli is likely to be in action for India in the England ODI series and then the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
