India star Virat Kohli is usually a fireball on the pitch. Particularly during his time as India’s captain, Kohli had formed a reputation for wearing his heart on his sleeve and approaching every game with an aggressive, but fair, demeanour. However, Friday saw a contrasting side of Kohli’s during Day 3 of the first Test between India and New Zealand. With Rachin Ravindra given out, the entire team had gotten up in celebration. However, commentators Harsha Bhogle and Ian Smith spotted that Kohli had kept his celebrations muted.

In the 89th over of the New Zealand innings, Ravindra had been given out caught behind off Mohammed Siraj‘s bowling. Not only had the entirety of the Indian team gone up in celebration, even umpire Michael Gough had convincingly given it out.

However, after a hestitant review, replays showed that the ball actually had not touched Ravindra’s bat, but instead a separate noise had appeared. Therefore, Ravindra survived.

It was then that former batter and now commentator Ian Smith pointed out that Kohli, at first slip, had not celebrated at all during the whole proceedings. Replays confirmed that Kohli had indeed not celebrated.

Fellow commentator Harsha Bhogle then coined Virat Kohli as ‘top’ of the list of ‘most expressive people in the world’, and perhaps signifying that Kohli’s muted reaction may have hinted that it wasn’t out.

India vs New Zealand, 1st Test Day 3: As it happened

While India put up a much stronger batting effort compared to the first innings, they suffered a big blow right at the end of Day 3’s play. Virat Kohli, batting on 70, was out caught behind on the final ball of the day.

India ended Day 3 on 231/3, still trailing New Zealand by a big margin of 125 runs. Sarfaraz Khan remained unbeaten at the end of the day.

Just a day after cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle slammed IndiGo Airline for troubling an elderly couple over blocked seats during a flight, Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has come out all guns blazing against the same airline. Ashwin, narrating his own experience of booking a flight on the airline recently, claimed that blocking seats in the plane doesn’t help much as the management can still decide to allot your blocked seat to someone else. 

“This is becoming a regular menace @IndiGo6E, my recent experience with them through a third-party booking platform was terrible, they make you pay and then end up doing whatever they choose to do.

“Not sure if it’s a scam !! heyyy who is ever going to pull them up ??? All we can do is to not trust them. Even if you pay, they won’t give your blocked seats, Don’t waste your time or energy,” Ashwin wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

This is becoming a regular menace @IndiGo6E ,my recent experience with them through a third party booking platform was terrible, they make you pay and then end up doing whatever they choose to do.

Not sure if it’s a scam !!

heyyy who is ever going to pull them up ???

All we… https://t.co/cMTf4fFvKh

— Ashwin (@ashwinravi99) August 26, 2024

Earlier, Harsha Bhogle narrated the story off an elderly passenger who was made to run around the inside the plane despite blocking the desired seat in advance. The commentator posted on X: “Another example of #IndigoFirstPassengerLast. An elderly couple on my flight had paid for seats in row 4 so they wouldn’t have to walk much. Without an explanation, #Indigo changed it to seat 19. The gentleman was going to struggle to walk till row 19 in a narrow passage. But who cares. A few people had to make a noise, point out the immorality and only then, thanks to the pleasant cabin crew were the original seats restored. But, and this is the point, they had to make a noise otherwise Indigo was going to get them to walk till 19, and check after boarding was complete, if they could be assigned 4, which meant they would have to walk back. 

“The elderly lady was meekly complaining about how this is a common occurrence and how it is stressful for people their age to travel #Indigo. “I wish they didn’t have a monopoly” she said. Such a pity. I am sure @IndiGo6E, you can sensitise your ground staff to put the passenger first occasionally. It was so disappointing to see how casually they were moving elderly passengers. With success comes responsibility. As someone who is proud of a successful Indian enterprise, I hope you can be more sensitive and not institutionalise  this uncaring attitude.”

After Harsha Bhogle’s outburst on social media, the airline also took to X and responded to the cricket commentator’s complaint.

“Mr Bhogle, thank you for bringing this to our attention and taking the time to speak with us. We sincerely regret the confusion that caused inconvenience to the customers. Our crew quickly intervened, ensuring they travelled comfortably in their originally assigned seats.

“We’ve also reached out to the customers to address this personally. We truly appreciate your understanding and look forward to serving you again soon,” the airline said in response.

New Delhi:

Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle on Saturday slammed IndiGo for changing an elderly couple’s seats on the flight. Taking to his official X account, he alleged that the couple had paid for seats in row 4 “so they wouldn’t have to walk much”. “Without an explanation, IndiGo changed it to seat 19,” Mr Bhogle claimed.

“The gentleman was going to struggle to walk till row 19 in a narrow passage. But who cares,” he added.

He said their original seats were restored after a few people pointed out the “immorality”. 

ALSO READ | Viral Post On IndiGo’s ”Cute Fee” Triggers Debate

“But, and this is the point, they had to make a noise otherwise Indigo was going to get them to walk till 19, and check after boarding was complete, if they could be assigned 4, which meant they would have to walk back,” he said, adding that the elderly lady was “meekly complaining about how this is a common occurrence” and how it is “stressful” for people their age to travel IndiGo. 

Another example of #IndigoFirstPassengerLast. An elderly couple on my flight had paid for seats in row 4 so they wouldn’t have to walk much. Without an explanation, #Indigo changed it to seat 19. The gentleman was going to struggle to walk till row 19 in a narrow passage. But who…

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 24, 2024

He also said that the lady wished “they didn’t have a monopoly”. 

“Such a pity. I am sure IndiGo, you can sensitise your ground staff to put the passenger first occasionally. It was so disappointing to see how casually they were moving elderly passengers. With success comes responsibility. As someone who is proud of a successful Indian enterprise, I hope you can be more sensitive and not institutionalise this uncaring attitude,” the Cricket commentator added.

IndiGo’s Response

IndiGo responded to Harsha Bhogle, saying it “sincerely regrets the confusion that caused inconvenience to the customers”.

“Mr Bhogle, thank you for bringing this to our attention and taking the time to speak with us. We sincerely regret the confusion that caused inconvenience to the customers. Our crew quickly intervened, ensuring they travelled comfortably in their originally assigned seats.,” the airline said.

IndiGo also said it reached out to the customers to address this personally. 

We’ve also reached out to the customers to address this personally. We truly appreciate your understanding and look forward to serving you again soon. 2/2 ~Satyendra

— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) August 24, 2024

“We truly appreciate your understanding and look forward to serving you again soon,” it added.

Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar has come under attack on social media after his contrasting analysis of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli‘s dismissals during the 2024 T20 World Cup match against Bangladesh left fans unhappy. Rohit Sharma had scored a quickfire 11-ball 23 to get India off to a flying start in the powerplay. On the other hand, Kohli played a more measured innings, scoring 37 off 28 balls. However, while Gavaskar praised the selflessness of Indian captain Rohit, he was harsher in his criticism about Virat’s dismissal. This led to a lot of unhappy reactions from fans of India’s No. 18.

Rohit got out trying to play a lofted shot off Shakib’s bowling. Prior to that, however, he had hit a six and a four in the same over. Gavaskar praised Rohit’s intent and aggressive approach.

“Someone who has hit 10 runs in two balls would not go for a big shot, but for Rohit Sharma, it is all about the team,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

Rohit Sharma’s dismissal would have no doubt brought back memories about the 2023 World Cup Final to the minds of Indian fans, as even on that occasion, Rohit had gotten out after already scoring big in the same over.

After a lean patch to start the tournament, Kohli was well set on 37 against Bangladesh. However, a rare slower delivery from Bangladesh’s tearaway pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib saw Kohli get clean bowled.

“What was he thinking? Should have played inside out,” was Gavaskar’s reaction.

The difference in reaction from Gavaskar to Rohit and Kohli’s dismissals left several fans unhappy on social media. The former India batter was tagged “biased” and a “hypocrite” by fans on X.

“It’s not fans but the commentators like Sunil Gavaskar who create the difference between the fans and players,” said one user, criticising Gavaskar’s opinion.

It’s not fans but the commentators like Sunil Gavaskar creates the difference between the fans and players.

Gavaskar today when Rohit Sharma got out : This is Rohit for you, all for the team.

When Virat Kohli got out : What he is doing, should have played inside out shots. pic.twitter.com/Gcvjkbvequ

— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) June 22, 2024

Sunil Gavaskar has become so annoying and is the biggest hypocrite rn

“What was he trying to do” – After Kohli got out

“Rohit is always for the team” – After Rohit got out

— A (@_shortarmjab_) June 22, 2024

Sunil Gavaskar says “For some one who has hit 10 runs in 2 balls would not go for big shot, but for Rohit sharma its all about the Team”. This is just biased commentary. #T20WC2024

— Sandeep (@sandeep_Vishu) June 22, 2024

Rohit Sharma playing big shots is considered “for the team,” while Virat Kohli doing the same is termed as “What is he trying to do?”

Cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar keep talking senseless like this and then expect respect in return. pic.twitter.com/juswtgDhQL

— Pari (@BluntIndianGal) June 22, 2024

Sunil Gavaskar would have lost his head if somebody else had gone for an attacking shot after 2 boundaries. But because it’s Rohit, he’s just saying it’s for the team. Literally mentioned for Rohit. The bias is unreal.

— Manya (@CSKian716) June 22, 2024

Rohit and Kohli’s knocks, along with good contributions from Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant and Shivam Dube, took India to a daunting total of 196-5 in 20 overs. Chasing it, Bangladesh fell short by 50 runs.

India have now almost certainly sealed a semi-final spot at the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup.

Nitish Rana hasn’t played much cricket for KKR in IPL 2024 due to an injury© BCCI/Sportzpics