Virat Kohli Defends Flipping Off The Sydney Crowd

Annoyed by the crowd taunts, young India cricketer Virat Kohli on
Tuesday showed his middle finger to a section of the crowd at the
Sydney Cricket Ground during the second Test and may face disciplinary
action for the gesture.

As Indian bowlers struggled to contain Australia captain Michael
Clarke (251 not out) and Ricky Ponting (134) during the course of
their 288-run stand, which helped Australia pile on 482/4, Kohli was
photographed raising his middle finger towards the spectators.

Kohli, however, justified his act on his twitter account after the
second day's play.

"I agree cricketers don't have to retaliate. what when the crowd says
the worst things about your mother and sister. the worst Ive heard,"
tweeted Kohli.

Kohli has even found support from Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan
and England cricketer Kevin Pietersen.

While Pietersen tweeted, "@imVkohli ha ha ha ha ha!!! Welcome to
Australia buddy!!," Bachchan said, "@imVkohli Just ignore criticism ..
Its there so you can prove it wrong ! you are great humans .. We adore
you ! Play well we are with you."

Kohli may be charged with Level 1 of ICC's Code of Conduct relating to
"using language or gesture(s) that is seriously obscene, seriously
offensive or of a seriously insulting nature to another player, player
support personnel, umpire, match referee or any other third person
during an international match."

If Kohli is found guilty, he could face a minimum penalty of having
half of his match fee docked or a maximum penalty of a one-Test
suspension.

However, so far the on-field umpires have not raised the issue with
match referee Ranjan Madugalle.

In a similar incident, Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was banned for a
match after indecently gesturing at a section of Fulham's fans during
an English Premier League match against Fulham.

Last month, Kohli had been reprimanded for showing dissent at an
umpire's decision during the third one-dayer against the West Indies
in Ahmedabad.

After being given out lbw, he had stood his ground for a considerable
time. Later he pleaded guilty to a Level 1 offence while accepting the
proposed sanction from the match referee David Boon.

Reference:-http://www.currentnewsindia.com/world/virat-kohli-defends-flipping-off-the-sydney-crowd-2.html