Virat Kohli Shouldn’t Be Playing In Ahmedabad Next Week, David Lloyd Bats For Three-Test Ban On India Captain

Former England batsman David Lloyd has said that India captain Virat Kohli should be banned for atleast three Tests after he was seen arguing with on-field umpire Nitin Menon after a contentious DRS call gave life to England’s Joe Root.

Virat Kohli was not happy with the decision not going India’s way, as originally the umpire had given Joe Root not out for a bat-pad catch. However, as India reviewed the decision, Root was also narrowly found LBW out, but thanks to the umpire’s call as less than half the ball was in line with the off-stump, the DRS opted to take the on-field umpire’s decision and adjudged the England captain not out.

Kohli was seen in animated decision with umpire Nitin Menon and this didn’t sit down well with many England cricket experts including Michael Vaughan and David Lloyd. Lloyd even asked for a ban on the Indian captain for his behavior with the officials.

In Any Other Sport, Virat Kohli Would Have Been Sent Off The Field: David Lloyd

The former England batsman David Lloyd was furious the way Virat Kohli behaved in the second Test match in Chennai, which incidentally England lost by 317 runs. He said that in any other sport, it would have been an instant red card and Kohli would be sent off.

“No word of any disciplinary action against Virat Kohli then? I chuckle and I despair. Cricket is so archaic. The captain of a national team is allowed to criticize, berate, intimidate and ridicule an official on the pitch. And he was allowed to carry on playing on in the second Test! In any other sport, he would have been sent off the field. Kohli certainly shouldn’t be playing in Ahmedabad next week,” David Lloyd wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.

In fact, Lloyd also brought in match referee and former India fast bowler Javagal Srinath into the mix and questioned why there has been no word from him on the Indian captain’s antics.

“All it would take to show the public the severity of any offence is the introduction of yellow and red cards. This was a straight red — which would mean he misses the next three Tests. The lack of any action from match referee Javagal Srinath sitting there in his nice air-conditioned room beggars belief. Three and a half days and he has said nothing,” added Lloyd.

Virat Kohli may face charges of a Level 1 or Level 2 offense for breaking the ICC code of conduct for showing “dissent at an umpire’s decision”. He already has two demerit points to his name and if the charges hold up against him, it may get him between one and four more demerit points and earn him a one-Test ban.

The next Test match between India and England is a day-night affair and will be played at the New Sardar Patel stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad.

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