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Learn from Bangalore crowd, Kohli tells Mumbai fans

Last Updated 29 April 2013, 04:56 IST

There might not have been too many occasions when Virat Kohli had to bear the brunt of crowd’s ire. But on Saturday night Mumbai crowd jeered Kohli on different occasions, also indicating the increasingly heated nature of the club loyalty of fans in the IPL.

It all started when Ambati Rayudu was run out by direct throw by Kohli, and the Mumbai Indian batsman was unintentionally interrupted by Royal Challengers Bangalore’s R Vinay Kumar, who was trying to collect the ball, from getting to the crease.

It followed an argument between Kohli and Mumbai’s Kieron Pollard, and crowd subsequently booed the RCB skipper and the calls of “cheater” repeatedly echoed in the stadium whenever Kohli fielded. The crowd continued to jeer the Delhiite when he came to bat and even while he came to speak at the presentation ceremony.

Kohli responded in strong language in the post-match press do. “It’s very important to have knowledge of cricket. If there was any intentional interruption by the bowler, the umpire would have stopped the batsman. It is his job not mine. The umpire told me it was fair, the bowler didn't see the batsman, and batsman didn't see the bowler, and they collided. It was perfectly fine, to be honest,” said Kohli.

“You should have that much cricket awareness to see that the bowler is coming back to his mark and that he has to back up when there is no one behind him,” he added.
Explaining his stand further Kohli said, “As far as the crowd is concerned, it has happened to few other players in the past. I don't know why they get so worked up during the IPL. IPL is not the end of the world. They forget that the players they are booing, play for their own country as well. It will only create hate among the players. You come to Bangalore and see, how Indian players are appreciated. I don't know what's wrong with the people at this venue.”

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(Published 27 April 2013, 19:56 IST)

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