Ball tampering: I don’t pay attention to all those things, says Kohli

After a British daily claimed that Virat Kohli was involved in ball tampering during the first India versus England Test in Rajkot, India’s Test skipper on Friday made it clear that had he done something, ICC would have spoken to him.

Kohli was asked about the allegations during the press conference on the eve of the third Test in Mohali.

“If I was doing something, ICC would have spoken to me,” said Kohli.

“I think it is just to take focus away from the series, to be honest. It happened in Australia when South Africa won the Test series. I am surprised actually that the issue came up in Rajkot but there was no mention till you saw the result in Vizag,” added Kohli.

While India secured a fighting a draw in Rajkot, the hometeam thumped Alastair Cook-led unit to win the Vizag Test by 246 runs. Kohli, who kept England at bay with an unbeaten 49-run knock in the second innings of the first Test, scored 248 runs and was adjudged Man of the Match in the second Test of the series.

Although the British newspaper said that the alleged incident had taken place in Rajkot, the footage was out in the open after India had clinched the second Test and taken 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Kohli went on to clear his stand on the issue, saying: “To me the newspaper article does not matter over the decision of the ICC and we, as cricketers, respect that only. Allegations and speculations, I am not aware of those things. I was told the five days after that thing came out and I laughed it off. I don’t pay attention to all those things.”