Virat Kohli Laughs Off Ball-Tampering Claims, Says It Was To Take Focus Away From England Series

Virat Kohli has laughed off claims of ball-tampering that have been levied against him by a British tabloid. According to a footage published in a British newspaper, Kohli is seen applying saliva to the ball in the first Test against England in Rajkot. The visuals are similar to what was seen during the Australia vs South Africa Test match when Proteas stand-in skipper Faf du Plessis was adjudged guilty of ball tampering by the ICC.

Kohli has rubbished the allegations saying that it is an attempt to take the focus away from the series and a newspaper article doesn't matter over ICC's decision.

BCCL

"This (ball-tampering allegations) is just to take focus away from series; to me newspaper article doesn't matter over ICC's decision. I don't read newspapers, was told 5 days later that such things happened, I just laughed it off," Kohli told the media ahead of the third Test against England in Mohali.

BCCL

The footage was first published by a South African newspaper group IOL, in which Kohli was seen rubbing his right-hand fingers with an artificial substance inside his mouth - most probably a chewing gum - and then proceeded to shine the ball applying saliva to the ball.

This is just to take focus away from series; to me newspaper article doesn't matter over ICC's decision: Kohli on ball-tampering allegations pic.twitter.com/kj5qLNwbq2

¡ª ANI (@ANI_news) November 25, 2016

But, the allegation does not hold much ground as per the specific clauses in the ICC's Rules and Regulations about playing conditions. As per ICC regulations on ball tampering, if a team wants to lodge a complaint about ball tampering by a rival team or its player, it has to be done within five days of the completion of the Test match. However, no complaint was filed by the visiting team (England) and they declined to comment on the issue.

This is just to take focus away from series; to me newspaper article doesn't matter over ICC's decision: Kohli on ball-tampering allegations pic.twitter.com/kj5qLNwbq2

¡ª ANI (@ANI_news) November 25, 2016

South African skipper Faf du Plessis, who was charged with ball-tampering during the second Test against Australia in Hobart after the ICC reviewed footage of the match that appeared to show du Plessis applying saliva to the ball with a lolly in his mouth, was allowed to play the third Test but was fined 100 per cent of his match fees.

India coach Anil Kumble had on Thursday categorically dismissed allegations of ball tampering, stating that he does not believe in "giving wind to such stories". "First of all, I don't want to react to any report that is there in the media. As far as I am concerned, neither the umpire nor the match referee ever came to us talking about it. We would certainly not like to give too much wind to the story," Kumble told mediapersons clarifying his and the team's stand in the matter.