Skipper Kohli sets an example on and off the field, says Vihari

Kolkata: Hanuma Vihari has revealed how skipper Virat Kohli is an inspiration in the dressing room for youngsters and they look up to him as their idol.

“He (Kohli) sets an example — on the field and off the field, with the work ethic he has. He is an inspiration in the dressing room, especially for youngsters. We look at him like an idol and someone who we can follow,” Vihari told ESPNCricinfo.

Vihari top-scored for India with 289 runs in four innings as India cruised to a 2-0 Test series whitewash over a hapless West Indies side who were no match to them.

Vihari batted at No. 6 and looked his own as he notched up his first hundred and also became the first Indian batsman since Sachin Tendulkar in 1990 to score a century and a fifty in the same Test while batting at No. 6 or lower.

After the series in the Caribbean, skipper Kohli heaped praise on Vihari saying the dressing room is a relaxed place when the 25-year old is in the middle.

Talking about playing in the ‘V’, Vihari said: “Playing in the ‘V’ was always my strength. If you ask anyone who has seen me in the early years of my career, they would say it is. Once I get my eye in, I dominate the spinners. Even the fast bowlers. I widen my range of shots, but initially I try to hit in the ‘V’ and play as straight as possible,” he added.

India will take on South Africa in three-Test series starting from Oct.2 at home, and Vihari will be a vital cog in India’s wheel.

“Every team, especially now with the Test Championship, will come hard for a win, especially when they’re playing away. They want an away win. It’ll boost their chances for the championship. I don’t want to take it easy and be complacent,” the right-hander said.

Meanwhile, Kohli has received an official warning and one demerit point after being found guilty of a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct during Sunday’s third T20I against South Africa.

According to the ICC release, Kohli was found to have breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “Inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match.”

In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to the disciplinary record of Kohli, for whom it was the third offence since the introduction of the revised Code in September 2016.

Kohli now has three demerit points after having got one demerit point each during the Pretoria Test against South Africa on January 15, 2018 and against Afghanistan in the 2019 World Cup 2019 on June 22.

Sunday’s incident occurred in the fifth over of India’s innings, when Kohli made contact with bowler Beuran Hendricks while taking a run.

Kohli admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Richie Richardson of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, and as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.

On-field umpires Nitin Menon and C.K. Nandan, third umpire Anil Chaudhary and fourth official Chettihody Shamshuddin levelled the charge.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

As per the rules, when a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned.

Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player.

Indo-Asian News Service