Indian cricketer Virat Kohli recently took issue with New Zealand captain Tom Latham after Latham and his batting partner Tom Blundell allegedly walked into the danger zone of the pitch during the third session on Day 3 of the ongoing second Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune.
The incident took place after Latham struck a boundary off Ravindra Jadeja’s delivery on the last ball of the 37th over. Jadeja pitched the ball at a good length just outside off, and Latham’s shot edged between the wicketkeeper, Rishabh Pant, and the slip cordon. Indian captain Rohit Sharma dived to his right in an attempt to catch the ball but narrowly missed as it sped past.
During the shot, Latham had stepped forward without properly covering the line, resulting in the fine edge that evaded Rohit. However, Kohli’s concerns were less about the boundary and more about Latham’s movement near the pitch’s danger area afterward, as Latham walked toward the non-striker’s end.
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With the pitch expected to play a crucial role in the final innings, Virat Kohli was alert to any activity that might cause additional wear. As Tom Latham moved toward his partner, Kohli raised the issue with the umpire, visibly unhappy with what he perceived as an attempt by the New Zealand batters to gain an advantage on a pitch India would later need to bat on.
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Virat Kohli gestured toward the New Zealand skipper while voicing his concerns to the officials. He was clearly intent on protecting the pitch from further deterioration, knowing that batting last could already be challenging without additional wear in the danger area.
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The heated moment sparked immediate social media buzz, as fans and commentators debated Kohli’s response and the New Zealanders’ actions on the pitch. With the clip now making rounds on various platforms, the exchange between Kohli, the umpires, and the New Zealand team has added another layer of intensity to an already fiercely contested Test match.
