Agencies
Melbourne: An “excitable character” who wants to win at all times — that’s how former Australian coach Darren Lehmann sees Virat Kohli. Lehmann said that there is nothing wrong with the Indian captain’s on-field conduct. Kohli and Australian skipper Tim Paine clashed on several occasions during the second Test in Perth, and some former Australian cricketers criticised Kohli’s aggression.
Lehmann said Kohli is entertaining to watch. “Virat Kohli is very passionate. So that’s what you get from him on the field and that’s what he will always give you.He is an excitable character. He enjoys his challengers, and he wants to win,” said Lehmann. “Not only for himself, he wants his country to win. It was good to see out there and I thought it was good banter.”
Lehmann made light of Kohli’s confrontation with Paine. “Neither Kohli nor Tim Paine crossed the line. It was good banter, and it came across as a bit of fun on the stump mics,” he said. Current coach Justin Langer had also described the showdown as humorous.
“You have to show passion when you are playing for your country and I don’t have any issue with what happened,” Lehmann continued. “There shouldn’t be any drama about what happened in Perth. You just have to make sure it is never personal and play the game in right spirit. Rest, I am sure they will sort it out after the game or after the series.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Kashmir Monitor staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
