Virat Kohli's personal loss exposed in 'shoulder-bump' and 'sandpaper act' by Ex-Australia stars

Former Australian cricketers Aaron Finch and Simon Katich have made bold statements on Virat Kohli’s on-field antics during the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, which Australia clinched after beating India in a five-match Test series with a 3-1 margin.

Slamming Kohli for his unnecessary actions on the Australia tour, Aaron Finch and Simon Katich said that the dashing right-hander went "overboard" and "tarnished his reputation,", especially with his sandpaper gate jibe at the Australian crowd in the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) last week.

Aaron Finch and Simon Katich criticize Virat Kohli's controversial behavior on Australia tour

Interestingly, Aaron Finch and Simon Katich both shared the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) dressing room with Virat Kohli during the Indian Premier League (IPL). While Finch shared the field with the Indian cricket superstar, Katich served as the RCB head coach in the IPL.

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Well, Virat Kohli had sparked a major controversy with his on-field antics during India’s recent Test series against Australia, leaving fans and former players divided. The drama unfolded on Boxing Day at the MCG when Kohli shoulder-charged teenage Aussie debutant Sam Konstas.

After this, Kohli was fined 20% of his match fee and handed one demerit point by the ICC. But the controversy didn’t end there, as the former Indian skipper’s actions took another turn during the New Year’s Test, where he was seen mimicking a gesture referring to the infamous "Sandpapergate" scandal.

He's tarnished his reputation both on and off the field: Simon Katich

Kohli turned his pockets inside out, looked down his trousers, and appeared to rub the ball, taking a dig at Australia’s ball-tampering scandal in 2018 in Cape Town. This provocative behavior did not sit well with several Australian players, including Finch and Katich, who criticized Kohli for crossing the line and even said the India star lost his reputation by doing so.

Katich has raised concerns about Virat Kohli's behavior on the Australia tour, suggesting that his actions have affected his reputation. He acknowledged Kohli's status as a modern great in all formats but questioned his mindset on the tour, saying his actions were unnecessary and tarnished his image.

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Simon Katich said on ESPN's Around the Wicket show: “There's no doubt he (Kohli) has been a modern great of the game in all formats. But I think you have to question what sort of headspace he's been in on this tour to be doing that, making physical contact in Melbourne and then even the other unsavory incident in Sydney with the sandpaper reference there with the pockets. I mean that in itself—there was no need for that. It's old news, so in a way I think he's tarnished his reputation somewhat on this tour, on and off the field.”

Virat Kohli was trying to find something to ignite a fire in him: Aaron Finch

On the other hand, Aaron Finch believes that Kohli's behavior during the tour was driven by frustration. The former Australian skipper has pointed out that Kohli often thrives in confrontation, but this time he went too far, saying he was trying to spark motivation but failed to perform.

Aaron Finch said on ESPN's Around the Wicket show: “It was just a level of frustration. I said last week it seemed as though he wanted to find conflict and confrontation—that's where he generally plays his best cricket. So, he just went overboard on this tour. The bump, that was above and beyond anything I've seen on a field, and then the sandpaper, unnecessary. But overall, I think he was trying to find something to ignite a fire in himself but just wasn't up to it.”