Darren Lehmann disappointed with Virat Kohli's response

The recently concluded series between India and Australia was a spectacle, to say the least. It was surely one of the most evenly contested series’ in the last decade with the balance of the series tilting from one to other throughout the tour. India finally edged the series which was a great advertisement for Test cricket but some controversial incidences did leave a bad taste. Two most controversial incidents directly involved Australian captain Steve Smith.

In such intense series, some sledging and staring are quite natural and one cannot be critical of such on-field moments exchanged by the players. But in 2nd Test, the ‘cheatgate’ controversy, when Smith looked towards the dressing room seeking help regarding a DRS review had potential to snowball into a major controversy especially when the BCCI officially lodged a complaint against Australia in ICC.

Later BCCI decided to take back the complaint but in 4th Test, another controversy involving Smith surfaced when he appeared to abuse Indian opener, Murali Vijay when he claimed a bumped catch in the second innings of the last Test.

Virat Kohli seemed disappointed by the turn of the events and said that he was wrong to think that Australians were his friends but Australian coach, Darren Lehmann seemed disappointed with this remark but said that it is his personal opinion and he is entitled to have one, he stated, “Disappointing but that’s his opinion isn’t it?”

But Lehmann refused to give in to the suggestion that that rest of the Indian team had the same and he had reserved a special praise for India’s stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane who marshaled the team well after the regular captain Virat Kohli missed the match due to the shoulder injury he suffered in the third Test at Ranchi. Darren Lehmann said that “No, I don’t think the Indian team (feels that), I too was very impressed with (Ajinkya) Rahane’s captaincy. I thought he was brilliant,”

The Aussie coach had reserved a lavish praise for Australian captain Steve Smith who was the best batsman from either side in the series. Smith finished the series with most runs(499) which included 3 hundreds.

“Smith has been brilliant, he has been unbelievable. He has been Bradman-like with the bat. I am really pleased with him and how he has brought the team as a leader,” he said.

Lehmann accepted the fact that Indian team was slightly better of the two teams throughout the series but he also said that still there were plenty of positives for the young Australian side to take home.