Ruling the batting charts at the One Day International (ODI) World Cup 2023 in India, run machine Virat Kohli had earlier embraced a lean patch as the former India skipper went without scoring a century in Test cricket for a few years. Kohli played 41 consecutive innings in Test cricket without scoring a hundred. The former India skipper ended his long drought by smashing a brilliant century against Australia during the 2023 Border Gavaskar Trophy in Ahmedabad.
Known for getting under the skin of the opposition, Kohli had a heated exchange with Alex Lees when India toured England for the Test series decider. The Englishman was playing his sixth Test when India met England at Edgbaston. When Kohli locked horns with the Englishman, Lees decided to hit back at the batting icon during the series decider between the two teams.
In the book titled - Bazball: The Inside Story of a Test Cricket Revolution written by Nick Hoult and Lawrence Booth, Lees recalled his encounter with Kohli during the 2022 Test match between India and England. Unpurtubed by what Kohli had to say to his opponents on the field, the Englishman claimed that the former India skipper behaved like an “idiot”.
'Kohli was just being a bit of an idiot'
“Kohli was carrying on for quite a while. Because I was an inexperienced international, he was trying to use his weight. It was a pretty poor cricket chat. He was just carrying on in a fashion he can do sometimes. He had been getting under people’s skin in the field when he was batting. I’m not fussed about someone’s position in the game. We are all equal out on the pitch. I just wasn’t going to put up with someone trying to intimidate me. It was as simple as that. He is an incredible player, but I thought he was just being a bit of an idiot,” Lees mentioned in an extract of the book published in The Telegraph.
'I’ve had two kids since you last scored a century'
{{/usCountry}}“Kohli was carrying on for quite a while. Because I was an inexperienced international, he was trying to use his weight. It was a pretty poor cricket chat. He was just carrying on in a fashion he can do sometimes. He had been getting under people’s skin in the field when he was batting. I’m not fussed about someone’s position in the game. We are all equal out on the pitch. I just wasn’t going to put up with someone trying to intimidate me. It was as simple as that. He is an incredible player, but I thought he was just being a bit of an idiot,” Lees mentioned in an extract of the book published in The Telegraph.
'I’ve had two kids since you last scored a century'
{{/usCountry}}In retaliation, Less also ended up losing his cool and the Englishman decided to strike back at Kohli with a noteworthy remark. “I’ve had two kids since you last scored a century,” he told Kohli. Lees scored a gritty half-century in the 2nd innings for the hosts. The England opener scored 56 off 65 balls. The 30-year-old has only played 10 Tests for England.
In the rescheduled Test of the bilateral series, Kohli scored 11 off 19 balls in the first innings. The 34-year-old was dismissed for 20 off 40 balls in the 2nd inning as India folded for 245 in 81.5 overs. Unbeaten centuries from Joe Root (142) and Jonny Bairstow (114) powered England to a series-levelling seven-wicket win over India.