WATCH: Angry Virat Kohli fires throw at Bavuma’s head; batsman ducks just in time
It was quite odd to watch Virat Kohli not captaining in an Indian jersey on the field on Wednesday during the first ODI between South Africa and India in Paarl. It sparked comments on social media with Kohli’s unusually buzzing energy evidently shut down in the field in the ODI. However, things took a turn in the 36th over of the South Africa innings when we saw the firebrand Kohli is known to be.
Yuzvendra Chahal’s leg break was slammed to Kohli at short cover by Temba Bavuma and the speed at which the ball arrived meant that Kohli hurt his fingers while stopping the ball. The former Indian captain was seen shaking his hand in pain after stopping the ball.
The very next ball, another sharp leg break, well wide off Bavuma, was also slapped to Kohli at short cover. This time Kohli picked up the ball, and evidently still angered by the pain from the previous ball, fired a throw straight back at Bavuma, almost taking out the batter’s head. Bavuma ducked just in time and Rishabh Pant couldn’t even hold onto the throw. Bavuma was seen staring at Kohli with his arms up in the air, almost asking what Kohli was thinking.
Kohli was having none of it but, and could be seen gesturing at the batter with a ‘what is it, now?’ expression writ all over his face.
WATCH VIRAT KOHLI FIRING A THROW AT TEMBA BAVUMA HERE
India started off the ODI on a good note with South Africa losing three quick wickets, but Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen put them on course correction mode with a brilliant century partnership that helped South Africa out of the rut and put them in the driver’s seat.