Virat Kohli has avoided ICC censure for his heated exchanges with the umpires during India’s thumping Test victory over England in Chennai.
The Indian skipper was involved in two altercations with the on-field umpires Nitin Menon and Virender Sharma on the Test’s third day.
The first came when he was warned for running on the pitch while making a classy 62 in India’s second innings. Kohli then held a robust conversation with the umpires over DRS when England captain Joe Root very narrowly survived a review in late in the day. India coach Ravi Shastri joined the protestations as the players left the field.
Speculation had been rife that Kohli, who already has two demerit points on his record over the last two years, could have been charged with dissent by Match Referee Javagal Srinath. That could have lead to further demerit points, with a player banned when they reach four within two years.
Former England captain Andrew Strauss said on Channel 4’s coverage that Kohli had “let himself down” and that “opposition players get very frustrated where they feel he gets preferential treatment in India”.
The ICC do not officially announce when no charges have been laid, but it is understood that that is the case and the time period to do so has elapsed.
An official rating of the pitch – described by Root as “challenging” – will come in the next few days. Root made no attempt to blame England’s defeat on the pitch, accepting that they had been utterly outclassed in every department.
England today received a boost when Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood trained for the first time after being released from their six-day quarantine last night. The pair have arrived in the country having spent time at home after the tour of Sri Lanka.
Jofra Archer, who missed the Second Test with an elbow injury, also trained, bowling with pink ball, and appears on track to be available for the Third Test, which begins on Wednesday.
The fourth player to train was Dom Bess, who was dropped for Moeen Ali for the Second Test but – with Moeen heading home to rest – is now England’s second spin option and will be required again in the series.
Bairstow seems certain to return to the side in place of Dan Lawrence, while Zak Crawley is on track to be fit and could open the batting.
