“No good reason that I should unnecessarily respect some people” - When Virat Kohli hit back at Mitchell Johnson during 2014/15 BGT 

Virat Kohli clapped back at Mitchell Johnson and the Australian team for their relentless sledging during the 2014/15 Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). His comments came during the final game of the series at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

On Day 3, Australian players were squabbling with Kohli, as he and Ajinkya Rahane were building a solid partnership in response to the hosts' first-innings total of 530.

However, Johnson crossed the line when he fielded in his follow-through and threw the ball towards Kohli's end to run out the batter. Instead, the ball hit Kohli's body, which resulted in the duo engaging in a verbal duel.

Speaking to reporters after the day's play, Virat Kohli expressed his frustration with Johnson's gesture and felt there is no reason to be kind to the individuals, who aren't respectful to him. He said (via ESPNcricinfo):

"I was really annoyed with him hitting me with the ball, and I told him that's not on.'Try and hit the stumps next time, not my body.' You have got to send the right message across. I am not there to take to some unnecessary words or chats from someone. I am going there to play cricket, back myself. There's no good reason that I should respect unnecessarily some people when they are not respecting me."

"They were calling me a spoilt brat, and I said, 'Maybe that's the way I am. You guys hate me, and I like that,'" Kohli added.

The incident pumped Kohli, as he went on to slam 169 and stitch together a 262-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane (147). In the end, the game ended in a draw and Australia won the series 2-0.

---

What is Virat Kohli's overall record in BGT?

The 35-year-old has been a credible performer in the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). In 42 innings, Virat Kohli has amassed 1,979 runs at an average of 48.26, with eight centuries and five fifties.

Kohli emerged as India's finest batter in the 2014/15 BGT with 692 runs in eight games at an average of 86.50. Meanwhile, his highest score of 186 came in the 2023 edition.

Virat Kohli will again be the key player for the Indian team in the BGT 2024/25, beginning on November 22. He holds an average of over 50 in the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle with 468 runs in 10 innings.