ADELAIDE, Australia – India batsman Virat Kohli was elated to score his first test hundred on Thursday, describing it as a perfect riposte after accusing Ben Hilfenhaus, the Australia team and a drunken Adelaide Oval crowd of unnecessary sledging.
In just his eighth test, Kohli hit 116 on the third day of the fourth and final match to help India total 272 against a pace onslaught led by Peter Siddle, who took 5-49.
But Kohli said it was the behaviour of Hilfenhaus that most upset him.
“Hilfenhaus said something to me that was totally unneccessary,” Kohli said. “I can’t repeat what he said in the press conference. I gave it back to him … I like to give it back, that’s how I play my cricket. At the end of the day, I am pretty happy with what I did.
“To give it back verbally and with a hundred is even better. We don’t go out there to take anything from anyone. We’re international cricketers as well. It’s much more satisfying. It was hot out there. They were constantly sledging to break our concentration.”
The exchange came after Kohli almost ran himself out on 99 while attempting to retain the strike from tailender Ishant Sharma after his team had lost two quick wickets from successive balls.
As the players swapped ends at the end of the over there was a heated exchange between the two batsmen and fielder Hilfenhaus, before former captain Ricky Ponting and the match officials intervened.
“Ponting told me to hold it back … and that I might get into trouble,” Kohli said, referring to his fine from the International Cricket Council for making a rude gesture at the Sydney fans in the second test.
Kohli said Australian crowds continue to taunt India’s fielders when positioned on the boundary.
“In Sydney they were after me because I was not scoring runs … now they’re (upset because) I got a hundred,” Kohli said. “Nothing has changed much but the reason has changed. It’s frustrating at times … they say stuff that should not be said on a cricket field. We don’t go out there to get abused like that. They should come and enjoy the cricket (and) not get drunk and abuse players.
“That’s not fair on the players because if we retaliate we get fined, but they get away.”
Australia reached 50-3 by stumps to lead by 382 runs as it attempts to whitewash the series.
