Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has raised question over BCCI’s double standard after RCB stalwart Virat Kohli escaped punishment for his in-your-face celebration directed at PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer.
Chopra compared Kohli's act to LSG spinner Digvesh Rathi, who was fined twice this season for his notebook celebration.
Virat Kohli had played a key role with the bat in RCB’s seven-wicket victory over PBKS in Chandigarh on Sunday (April 20).
Chasing 158 to win, the Bengaluru-based franchise lost Phil Salt in the very first over for just 1. However, Kohli shared a 103-run stand for the second wicket with Devdutt Padikkal to put the visitors in a commanding position.
While Padikkal fell after scoring 61 off 35 balls, Kohli remained unbeaten on 73* off 54 balls to take his team over the line in 18.5 overs.
As soon as Jitesh Sharma’s six off Nehal Wadhera sealed the deal for RCB, Kohli turned towards Shreyas and celebrated in an animated manner.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra wondered why Kohli got away with a penalty while Digvesh was reprimanded for his notebook celebration on both occasions.
"What caught my eye was that Digvesh Rathi did a 'notebook' celebration. He did it once and got fined. He did it a second time and got fined. He got scared the third time, saying he was not earning as much as he would lose in fines. So he has started writing something on the ground," Chopra said.
"Then we saw Virat Kohli's celebration at the end of the PBKS-RCB match, that was also pure aggression. However, no one said anything to him. There is not even a rap on the knuckles. Nobody has pulled him up for that, but you did that when Digvesh Rathi did a notebook celebration," he added.
Notably, Digvesh Rathi was fined twice by the BCCI for his wild celebrations after taking a wicket. During a match against Punjab Kings earlier this month, he made the notebook gesture after dismissing Priyansh Arya. The leg-spinner did a similar celebration in the subsequent fixture against Mumbai Indians after taking the wicket of Naman Dhir.
Rathi was fined 25 percent of his match fees for the first offence, while he copped 50 percent penalty for the second offence.
Aakash Chopra also recalled CSK legend MS Dhoni being fined for entering the field and arguing with the umpires during the 2019 edition of IPL. He felt Kohli did not meet the same fate.
"I recall MS Dhoni was once fined 50 percent of his match fee because he entered the ground. He shouldn't have gone at all. 50 per cent of his match fee was immediately cut. It could have been more than that, but there was some action. However, it hasn't happened in Virat Kohli's case," Chopra remarked.
