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Former Australian cricketers Aaron Finch and Simon Katich have made bold statements about Virat Kohli’s performances on the field during the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, which Australia clinched after beating India in a Test series of five games with a margin of 3-1. .
Aaron Finch and Simon Katich said the hot right-hander “went overboard” and “tarnished his reputation”, particularly with his sandpaper taunt at the Australian crowd in the fifth and final over. Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) last week.
Aaron Finch and Simon Katich criticize Virat Kohli’s controversial behavior on Australia tour
Interestingly, Aaron Finch and Simon Katich shared the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) dressing room with Virat Kohli during the Indian Premier League (IPL). While Finch shared the field with the Indian cricket superstar, Katich served as RCB’s head coach in the IPL.
Well, Virat Kohli had created a huge controversy with his on-field antics during India’s recent Test series against Australia, leaving fans and former players divided. Drama unfolded on Boxing Day at the MCG when Kohli shouldered Australian teenage debutant Sam Konstas.
Following this, Kohli was fined 20% of his match fee and given a demerit point by the ICC. But the controversy didn’t end there as the former Indian skipper’s actions took another turn during the New Year Test where he was seen mimicking a gesture referring to the infamous ‘Sandpapergate’ scandal “.
He has tarnished his reputation both on and off the pitch: Simon Katich
Kohli turned his pockets inside out, looked down his pants and appeared to rub the ball, probing Australia’s 2018 ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town. This provocative behavior did not go down well with several Australian players, including Finch and Katich, who criticized Kohli for crossing the line and even said that the Indian star had lost his reputation by doing so.
Katich has expressed concern over Virat Kohli’s behavior on the Australia tour, suggesting his actions have affected his reputation. He acknowledged Kohli’s status as a modern great in all formats but questioned his mentality on the tour, saying his actions were unnecessary and tarnished his image.
Simon Katich told ESPN’s Around the Wicket show: “There’s no doubt that he (Kohli) has been a modern great of the game in all formats. But I think you have to question in what kind of space none has been on this tour to do that, making physical contact in Melbourne and even the other nasty incident in Sydney with the sandpaper reference there with the pockets I mean that in itself, there was no need of that. It’s old news, like that which in some ways I think has tarnished his reputation a little bit on this tour, on and off the field.”
Virat Kohli was trying to find something to light a fire in him – Aaron Finch
On the other hand, Aaron Finch believes that Kohli’s behavior during the tour was motivated by frustration. The former Australian skipper has pointed out that Kohli often thrives in the face-off but this time he went too far, saying he was trying to spark motivation but failed.
Aaron Finch told ESPN’s Around the Wicket programme: “It was just a level of frustration. I said last week he seemed to want to find conflict and confrontation – that’s where he generally plays his best cricket. So it’s It went overboard on this tour. The hit, which was above all I’ve seen in a field, and then the sandpaper, was unnecessary. But in general, I was trying to find something to turn one on fire in himself, but it wasn’t up to it.”
