Cricket in 2018: 7 instances when Virat Kohli was involved in the controversy

Virat Kohli. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) The Indian skipper Virat Kohli is no new to controversies. Over the years, he has been involved in several controversies that stirred up the entire nation. Even though he is the best batsman in the world at the moment, he is known for his so-called ‘erratic behaviour’ on the field. Be it the middle-finger saga in 2012, or the conflict with Anil Kumble, he has always been in the middle of it all. This year was no different. The captain found himself in the news for quite a few wrong reasons. Here are seven instances where Virat Kohli was involved in a controversy in 2018. 1. ‘Leave India’ This by far could be the biggest of all the controversies for Virat Kohli. His ‘leave India’ comments attracted the attention of the national media and created a lot of stir. During the launch of his own app on his 30th birthday, the run-machine had an interaction with the fans where he responded to their questions. One of the fans commented that he prefers watching England and Australian players to Indians. To this, Kohli’s response was very shocking. “I don’t think you should live in India, go and live somewhere else,” Virat told in the video which went viral on the social media. Later, he responded to the backlash by saying he was “all for freedom of choice”, adding: “I guess trolling isn’t for me guys, I’ll stick to getting trolled!” 2. The Garbage incident Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma. (Photo Source: Instagram) This is another incident which left the fans divided. Kohli’s wife Anushka Sharma decided to give a mouthful to a man who threw the garbage on the roads of Mumbai. Virat decided to record this entire incident and even uploaded the same on all of his social media platforms. Saw these people throwing garbage on the road & pulled them up rightfully. Travelling in a luxury car and brains gone for a toss. These people will keep our country clean? Yeah right! If you see something wrong happening like this, do the same & spread awareness. @AnushkaSharma pic.twitter.com/p8flrmcnba — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) June 16, 2018 The video that was uploaded caused a lot of controversies. The man who was bashed in the video as well as his mother lashed out at the couple on the social media. They also claimed it to be a ‘publicity stunt’. View this post on Instagram Disclaimer: i have no desire to gain any mileage from this post of mine… Horrible! So I happened to carelessly Litter a sq mm of plastic while driving ! A car passing by rolls their window down and there we have our wonderful @anushkasharma ranting and yelling like a crazy roadside person! While I’m apologetic for my carelessness , Mrs Anushka Sharma Kohli a little etiquette and politeness in ur dialogue wouldn’t have made u a lesser star !! There are all kinds of manners and hygiene .. verbal etiquette is one of them ! The garbage that mistakenly went out of the window of my "luxury car"… Was way less then the garbage that came out from your mouth… From ur "luxury car's" window… Or the trashy mind @virat.kohli to shoot and post this online… For whatever gains… Now thats some serious trash!!! A post shared by Arhhan Singh (@arhhansingh) on Jun 16, 2018 at 7:05am PDT View this post on Instagram @anushkasharma @virat.kohli The last thing we would want is to get publicity out of your cheap STUNT in the name of CLEANLINESS! You both posted a video for your fans n followers by VIOLATING Basic Rights to privacy &you shamed my son in the video as well in your post content you both may be who you are in your fields, with millions of followers & all the PR backing you… you may be payed for your campaigning or maybe doing it for sheer publicity As a mother,I would like to state that you have not only shamed my son @arhhansingh on social media by not blurring his face, but youve also exposed him to unwanted hostility…. and danger from fanatics for such a small thing that you claim he has done but have no proof of anyways ? I am concerned about my sons SAFTEY !!! how dare you crush somebody’s image/and morale and reputation and expose him to public hate, a boy who is on the verge of starting his ventures, ..just to prove what good citizens you both are to increase your fan following ?How dare you?? If you both really cared or bothered about cleanliness , then you would actively do something about all the garbage in your own lane.. you would make a noise and use your VOICE to urge the municipal authorities to take action atleast in the lane where you live,to start with, which you haven’t . Posting videos of fake bravado just to fool your followers. If your intention was genuine then you would pull over and politely correct the person for littering IF THEY DID in a decent and real manner… and not by displaying such a rude and arrogant attitude, and then posting it for the world to see! You have caused a lot of grief with your post & this is morally and humanitarianly very wrong. You may be #AnushkaSharma or #viraatkohli in your house or on screen & the field…but on the streets you are just a citizen trying to correct another… DO IT WITH KINDNESS ….fear karma . And just FYI , he did not react badly, not coz of who you both are.. we couldnt care less,but only because he has a decent upbringing ! Unlike people like you, who seem to think that you are the empowered ones to talk and treat people as you wish ! A post shared by Gittanjali Elizabeth Mordecai (@gittanjali.elizabeth.singh) on Jun 16, 2018 at 12:19pm PDT 3. Anushka Sharma posing with Indian High Commissioner to the UK in London Team India members at the High Commission of India in London. (Photo Source: Twitter) Another major controversy that surrounded Virat Kohli was when India toured England this year. The entire side was invited to visit the Indian High Commissioner to the UK in London. While the team and the support staff were present at the venue, Anushka Sharma came in as a surprise package. She was the only wife of a cricketer who was present over there and stood right in the first row along with the skipper. This didn’t really go well with the fans as the vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane was standing in the last row and many opined that it was disrespectful. View this post on Instagram The High Commission of India sent in a special invite to the team and it's families for a get together last evening in London 📸👍🏻 A post shared by Team India (@indiancricketteam) on Aug 7, 2018 at 1:40pm PDT 4. Shorts during the toss Virat Kohli. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images) For the practice game against Cricket Australia XI, Virat Kohli walked out in his shorts for the toss. Yet again, the critics and the fans lashed out at him for this act. Many felt that this was disgraceful and lashed out at the skipper for the act. Virat didn’t even sport the Indian jersey and only wore the sweatshirt on the top of his inners. View this post on Instagram CA XI have won the toss and will field first against #TeamIndia A post shared by Team India (@indiancricketteam) on Nov 28, 2018 at 2:36pm PST 5. Attitude much? – The Tim Paine saga Tim Paine & Virat Kohli. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Virat Kohli and Australian skipper Tim Paine had a go at each other throughout the second Test between Australia and India this year. The duo was also involved in a near-collision and it seemed as if Kohli was at fault here. Reportedly, he also said to Tim Paine that: “I’m the best batsman in the world. You are just a stand-in skipper”. This statement, coming from the 30-year-old, who has acted with a lot of maturity in recent times didn’t go well with one and all. Many claimed that the Indian skipper showed off a lot of attitude on the field and there were several questions raised about his behaviour. 6. The IPL controversies Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Twitter) There were a few controversies that Virat Kohli raised during the IPL this year. First of all, he didn’t walk back when he clearly edged a ball in one of the matches. There were questions raised about his honesty and the fans cited this when he mocked Australia‘s Peter Handscomb in one of the fielding drills after the controversial catch. Also, a few questions were raised when the RCB skipper demanded INR 17 crores for the season. A few fans claimed that Kohli taking in the additional moolah forced the management to retain Sarfaraz Khan as they exhausted additional resources for him. There was criticism that he put his personal needs ahead of the team’s needs. There were also reports that Kohli rejected to do an ad shoot with Deepika Padukone which apparently cost RCB INR 11 crores loss. 7. Lashing out at journalists Virat Kohli speaks in the press conference. (Photo Source: Twitter) In England India’s head coach Ravi Shastri has touted this Indian team to be the best in the last fifteen years. After the 1-4 series loss in England, the Indian skipper was questioned about the same at a press conference. Virat gave an ugly death stare at the journalist and absolutely lashed out at him. Journalist: Virat, you guys were competitive throughout the series, but the fact that these kinds of tags like ‘the best Indian side in the last 15 years’, do these things put extra pressure on you or do you actually believe you are. Kohli: We have to believe we are the best side and why not? Journalist: But is this the best Indian side in the last 15 years? Kohli: What do you think? Journalist: I’m not sure. Kohli: You’re not sure? That’s your opinion. Thank you. In South Africa A similar incident also took place in South Africa when the Indian captain was asked about his overseas record. Journalist: You talking about the team not coming together well, maybe has that been because of the changing of the selection? In all the Tests that you have been captain, you have changed your line up in almost every Test. And I think you would know that to win Test matches you also need a little bit of consistency or a lot of consistency and you guys have been lacking that part. What would you put that down to and how would you basically say that you guys will continue changing your team and expect a different result? Kohli: How many Test matches have you (South Africa) won out of 30? How many have you won? 21 wins, two losses, how many draws? Journalist: How many in India? Kohli: Doesn’t matter wherever we are trying to do our best. I’m here to answer your questions not to fight with you. Get the latest Cricket News and all the Cricket in 2018 articles, Match Predictions, Fantasy Cricket Tips and lots more on CricTracker.com.

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Cricket in 2018: 7 instances when Virat Kohli was involved in the controversy

Kohli was in the news whole year for his actions off the field as well.

6. The IPL controversies

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