Virat Kohli Reminds Everyone of the Sandpaper Gate Incident at the Sydney Test

radhesh-sharma — Sun, 05 Jan 2025 10:27:28 GMT

The fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) had an unexpected twist. Rohit Sharma, India’s regular captain, decided not to play in this match. Jasprit Bumrah was named captain for the game. But on Day 2, while bowling during Australia’s first innings, Bumrah had back pain. He left the field for scans, and doctors found that he had back spasms.

With Bumrah unable to continue, Virat Kohli took charge as captain for the rest of Day 2 and Day 3. Kohli, known for his energy and strong personality, brought life to the game. He gave fans a memorable moment on Day 3. In the 10th over of Australia’s innings, Prasidh Krishna dismissed Steven Smith. Kohli celebrated the wicket in his usual fiery style, showing his passion for the game.

However, the Australian crowd at the SCG didn’t like this. They tried to mock Kohli after his celebration. In reply, Kohli gave them a bold and cheeky response—he pointed to his empty pockets and tugged at his trousers. This action reminded everyone of the "Sandpaper Gate" scandal in 2018. During that incident, Australian players were caught tampering with the ball using sandpaper hidden in their pockets and undergarments. Kohli’s reaction seemed to be a playful reminder of this past controversy.

"What is that about?"#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/HwNZXhKW1S
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 5, 2025

Even with Kohli’s spirited leadership, India struggled in the series. Australia won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with a 3-1 victory. This ended India’s winning streak in the series that had started under Kohli’s captaincy in 2017-18. Kohli had led India to a historic victory back then, but this time the results didn’t go in his favor.

For Kohli, this series was not a good one with the bat. He scored only one century and couldn’t play big innings like he used to. Fans and cricket experts criticized him for his poor performances throughout the series. While many admitted that he was not in his peak form, some loyal fans refused to give up on him and believed he could bounce back stronger.

Still, Kohli’s energy and passion stood out. His response to the SCG crowd showed his fearless attitude and strong character. Despite his struggles with form, Kohli’s aura remained the same.