The bad blood between Australia and India continued on Saturday (more than on the pitch, really).
All-rounder Glenn Maxwell holding his shoulder with a smile on his face after going down on the field to save a boundary, sparked a debate, with many pointing out that he was mocking Virat Kohli’s injury.
Pic 1 ~ Virat Kohli…
Pic 2 ~ Virat Ki Li !!#IndvAus pic.twitter.com/0jNWfmjqEK— Babu Bhaiya (@Shahrcasm) March 18, 2017
On the opening day, Kohli was left clutching his right shoulder in pain after he dived while fielding at the mid-on area and later scans revealed that he had suffered a strain and missed fielding action for 400 minutes.
Maxwell, who had struck a brilliant hundred on Friday, imitated the Indian skipper’s action by clutching his right shoulder after his dive to save a boundary in the 81st over.
Pujara had played a fine flick through the mid-on off Pat Cummins and Maxwell gave a chase at the deep, exactly in the same region where Kohli made that awkward dive to injure his right shoulder.
Incidentally, that fielding effort to save the boundary brought Kohli on strike and he promptly edged to Steve Smith at second slip off the very next ball.
Some came down heavily on Maxwell’s behaviour…
Dear Maxwell making fun of Someone’s injury is not at all funny😎
You hav to pay for this.Mark my words_l_Virat Kohli#IndvAus #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/rA3dkfqnvs— Sir Rohit Sharma (@SirRohitSharma_) March 18, 2017
For the record: We could not really find any evidence to support Smith mocked Kohli as well after taking the catch, like this one user on Twitter pointed out.
But there were a few who said it was not much different from Kohli mockingly applauding Australia from the dressing room when they ran out of DRS reviews earlier in the day.
When Kohli mocks Australians: Thug life 😎
When Aussies mock Kohli: Unsportsmanlike 😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😂😂😂#INDvAUS— Sakun Sankalana (@Sakun_SD) March 18, 2017
We just have this to say for those outraging: If we enjoy Kohli giving it back to the Australians, we should also be alright with taking some of it ourselves.
Featured image: Twitter / BCCI