‘He is passionate’ – Kane Williamson responds to Virat Kohli’s brash send-off in Christchurch

Virat Kohli wasn’t a happy man after he was asked about the send-offs he gave to New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson in the second Test in Christchurch. After the Kiwis’ seven-wicket victory at the Hagley Oval, the Indian skipper was asked about the venom he spewed on his opposite number.

Kohli lashed out at a journalist, asking to hurl questions after churning full details out of what happened on the field. Virat told the journo to refrain from creating a controversy and stated that he had a chat with match referee Ranjan Madugalle, who Virat said didn’t have any issues.

“What do you think? I am asking you the answer. You need to find out an answer and come up with a better question. You can’t come here with half questions and half details of what happened,” Kohli was quoted as saying in the press conference.

“Also, if you want to create controversy, this is not the right place. I spoke with the match referee (Madugalle) and he had no issues with what happened,” he added.

Virat Kohli is passionate, says Williamson

After all the commotion and chaos, Williamson has responded to it. The Black Caps’ skipper termed Virat as passionate and reckoned that the matter shouldn’t be blown out of proportion. “It is Virat and he is passionate on the field. I don’t think we need to read too much into it,” Williamson said.

Virat didn’t have the greatest of series with the bat. In the four innings he batted in, the 31-year-old could only manage 38 runs at a horrendous average of 9.50. In the second Test, the Delhi-born was dismissed LBW, first by Tim Southee and Colin de Grandhomme. The poor run of form also took away his number one Test ranking as he was replaced by Australia’s Steve Smith.

Kane, on the other hand, was relatively better. In three innings, the Tauranga-born notched 97 runs at an average of 32.33. In the first Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, Williamson scored 89 that eventually helped the hosts win by 10 wickets. Courtesy the seven-wicket win in Christchurch, New Zealand won the series 2-0, most importantly garnering 120 points in the World Test Championship.