Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Simon Katich felt veteran batter Virat Kohli harmed his stunning reputation in a forgettable Border-Gavaskar Trophy for him in Australia. With much expected coming into the five-match Test series, Kohli failed as a batter as well.

Talking about Kohli’s horrific tour of Australia on the Around the Wicket podcast, Katich said [via Wisden]: “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 unsavoury 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.”

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli’s former RCB teammate, Aaron Finch, also echoed Simon Katich’s sentiments and he also felt frustration over his lack of production led Kohli to other antics on the field as well.

“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,” said Finch (via Wisden).