Sledging has always been a part of the longest format of the game. Over the years, we have witnessed many controversial ‘sledging’ incidents taking place on the field. Recalling one of those sledging incidents a former Australian cricketer has revealed how he once wanted to stab Virat Kohli for crossing the line.
Lately, the Indian skipper Virat Kohli has found himself at the receiving end of criticism after his verbal banter with James Anderson during the second Test match at the iconic Lord’s Stadium. Several cricketers and experts are trying to villainize the Indian skipper Virat Kohli for the way he operates on-field. Fans and cricketers are once again debating over his attitude and behavior once again.
Meanwhile, an old interview of Australian cricketer Ed Cowan has been making rounds on the internet, where he has revealed how he wanted to stab Virat Kohli once. Yes, you read that right.
Well, recalling a run-in with Virat Kohli, former Australia opener in an interview (from 2017) had revealed how he once felt like picking up a stump and stabbing Virat after being told something “highly inappropriate”. It possibly happened when India toured down under for a four-Test series in 2011-12 and Virat was constantly targeted by the Australian team and public, leading to this incident.
Cowan revealed that during the war of words, Kohli did not realize that he had “overstepped the mark” but he apologized soon after the umpire intervened. He revealed:
“I’m a huge fan of his cricket. Don’t get me wrong he’s a phenomenal cricketer,” Cowan told Fox Sports. “I had a little bit of a run-in that was inappropriate when he toured Australia and the umpire had to intervene.”
“We forget that English isn’t their first language. It’s very easy to sit back and say as a player they’re barking something at me that is inappropriate when we don’t try and converse with them in Hindi. There’s always going to be niggles around misinterpretation of what’s said and what isn’t said on the field.”
He added:
“I had a very sick Mum during one of those series and he said something that was inappropriate. Why I make the point of ‘lost in translation’, he said something that was highly inappropriate. A personal matter that was highly sensitive. Highly inappropriate. But he didn’t realise that he’d overstepped the mark until the umpire came over and said – ‘Virat that’s overstepped the mark’ – and once that was said, he took a step back and apologised. But, there was a moment I wanted to pick up the stump and stab him.”
