'What a joke!' - Twitter comes up with mixed reactions after Virat Kohli wins ICC Spirit of Cricket award

The International Cricket Council is awarding the best performers of the year 2019 with the ICC awards and Rohit Sharma won the ODI Cricketer of the year award for his incredible performances in the 50-overs format. While Virat Kohli missed out on that award, the Indian captain won the Spirit of Cricket award for his heart-touching gesture after the fans were booing Steve Smith at the Oval.

Virat Kohli is known for being a hot-headed guy who loses his cool every now and then. Though the Indian skipper has worked on his patience levels, he does not back off when any opposition player tries to sledge him. The best example of this was witnessed during the India vs West Indies series where Kohli completely killed the confidence of Kesrick Williams by mimicking his ‘notebook’ celebration.

Virat Kohli wins ICC Spirit of Cricket Award for his on-field gesture

It was during the group stage match between India and Australia where the English fans started booing Australian batsman Steve Smith when he was fielding for his team. The fans were angry with Smith because of his involvement in the infamous ball-tampering scandal. The former Australian captain was making his return to international cricket after serving the suspension but the fans showed no respect to him.

Virat Kohli, however, had opined that the players should be given another chance to perform because at the end of the day, all are human beings and they can commit mistakes. So, while he was batting in the middle, he asked the fans not to boo Smith and instead cheer for him as he was making a return to international cricket.

Smith is one of Virat Kohli’s fiercest rivals but the Indian skipper won the hearts of the cricket universe with his gesture at the Oval. India had later won that match and added 2 points to their kitty. Both India and Australia had crashed out of the semifinals of that World Cup. Currently, they are playing a 3-match ODI series where Australia has taken a 1-0 lead.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Virat Kohli winning the award:

When MS Dhoni won the Spirit of Cricket award in 2011, Virat Kohli was probably the LEAST expected to become the next Indian to win the same award. This is some transformation.#iccawards

— Kausthub (@kaustats) January 15, 2020

Rohit winning odi cricketer of the year and Kohli winning spirit of the cricket.
Climate change is real, morons.

— Denz Mart (@MadMart05) January 15, 2020

Yaar Kohli won Spirit of Cricket Award.
Ab sirf IPL jeetna baaki h.

— Danny Ings Fan #FarryFC (@karthik_jammy) January 15, 2020

Kohli is the captain of both ICC TEST team and ODI team.
Also KOHLI won the ICC spirit of cricket.
From showing middle finger to audience to requesting Indian fans not to boo Steve smith Kohli has come a long way.#ICCAwards

— Subham (@subhsays) January 15, 2020

Kohli winning Spirit of Cricket Award 2019 is probably the lowest point for a fan. The downfall is unreal. No more the same guy in my header.

— K Vijayendra #MitulFC (@k_vijayendra8) January 15, 2020

Jokes aside, I would like to congrats kohli for winning 2019 spirit of cricket Award and maybe He deserved to win it. But if he won it just for that gesture for steve smith then seriously I can just laugh at these awards!.

— Aabhash (@Iam_Aabhash) January 15, 2020

Virat Kohli getting Spirit Of Cricket Award…
Virat Kohli is the elder statesman of the Cricketing World now….
What weird timeline is this

— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) January 15, 2020

This (Spirit of the cricket award) is Virat Kohli's 7th ICC AWARD

Another Feather in the Cap for the KING 👑#ViratKohli #KingKohli @imVkohli #iccawards pic.twitter.com/qwzyxddeux

— Virat Kohli Trends™🔥 (@TrendVirat) January 15, 2020

Spirit of the year award 😭
Feels like some senior citizen type honor.
Kya yaar Kohli come back to your normal self na 😐

— Sachi (@Sachi_here) January 15, 2020

Actually quite nice to see Virat Kohli win the ICC Spirit of The Cricket year award. Doesn't have to be in their face all the time. Think he's a fine example of controlled aggression. Don't have to be an AGGRESSION MERCHANT all the time. He knows what works best for him

— Saurabh Smith (@Boomrah_) January 15, 2020

Virat Kohli "spirit of cricket 2019?" You've got to be kidding me @ICC #ICCAwards

— Rudri Joshipura (@RJoshipura) January 15, 2020

Filmfare award main SRK ko jaise award dete hain, waise hi hai yeh! Kohli and spirit of cricket??? Kuch Bhi… By awarding one good gesture, they are legitimising his usual bad behaviour. Anyway, hope this inspires him to be more level headed here on. https://t.co/5Ji3pBbPrf

— Virinder Villkhoo (@filmantic) January 15, 2020

Naseeruddin shah who once tagged Kohli as the worst behaved player after watching Kohli to win ICC spirit of the cricket award.#ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/16vCk3SQxt

— Subham (@subhsays) January 15, 2020

Wat a joke that Kohli get spirit of cricket award to such a arrogant cricketer 🤣🤣

— Aussie fan (@rajeshsmart) January 15, 2020

Never thought I'd live to see the day when Virat Kohli wins the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award (for his gesture towards Steve Smith in the World Cup). This is like giving Tushhar Kapoor an Oscar for his performance in Golmaal. I guess #BenStokes is a proud man today 😛

— Mayank Lodha (@bakarconsultant) January 15, 2020