Watch: Virat Kohli mocks SCG crowd with controversial sandpaper gesture after Steven Smith’s wicket

Day 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is tense as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25 draws to a thrilling conclusion. Although he did bat in the first session, Australia’s stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah has not been on the pitch for the second innings. In Bumrah’s absence, Virat Kohli is captaining the squad as India attempts to hold onto the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy by defending a 162-run mark.

When India took the pitch in the fourth innings of the Test match on Sunday, January 5, the Australian supporters at the famous stadium started to taunt the famed cricketer in an attempt to get under Kohli’s skin. Following the dismissal of Steve Smith, Australia’s second-highest run scorer in the series, by Prasidh Krishna, Kohli turned to face a portion of the audience and revealed that he was out of sandpaper. To add insult to injury, he mimicked some of the notorious moments from the sandpaper issue during Australia’s 2018 Test series against South Africa.

“What is that about?”#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/HwNZXhKW1S

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 5, 2025

The way that Virat Kohli responded to his trolls during a heated time in the crucial fifth Test was adored by the Indian fans in the audience.

The dressing room has also been infiltrated by the banter. According to Aaron Finch, Kohli is purposefully picking fights in an effort to get back to his former level. On-air pundit Sanjay Manjrekar stated, “Finchy is correct.”

Australia needs 91 more runs to win after reaching the lunch break at 71/3.

Australia had a goal of 162 to pursue in their last innings after India only added 16 runs to their overnight total. Sam Konstas opened the scoring for the hosts with a 17-ball 22. Before Krishna removed him, he and Usman Khawaja contributed 39 runs off just 23 balls.

Before defeating Smith, the Karnataka seamer went on to remove Marnus Labuschagne for six. At lunch on the third day, Australia finished at 71/3. India is looking for seven more wickets, while they need another 91 runs to win.