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28 March 2024

Twitter ban on Indian cricket team

India's Virat Kohli calls out as he walks away from the wicket after being dismissed by Australia's James Pattinson during the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 6. (REUTERS

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By Staff

The Indian team management in Australia has banned players from using social networking site to voice their opinions, according to reports in the Indian media.

This comes in the wake of Virat Kohli justifying his middle finger gesture to the Sydney Cricket Ground fans, who reportedly heckled him on Day Two of the second Test in Sydney last week.

"I agree cricketers don't have to retaliate. What when the crowd says the worst things about your mother and sister. The worst I've heard," Kohli said on his Twitter account after the incident.

The Delhi batsman was fined 50 per cent of his match fee by International Cricket Council match referee Ranjan Madugalle for his finger gesture.

According to the ICC, Kohli was charged with a Level 2 offence under article 2.2.8 of the code which relates to "Using language or gesture(s) that is seriously obscene, seriously offensive or of a seriously insulting nature to another Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other third person during an International Match".

However, Kohli's tweet attracted other comments including from England batting star Kevin Pietersen, who tweeted: "Ha ha ha ha ha!!! Welcome to Australia buddy!!" 

Kohli replied: "Never heard crap like that. EVER".

After back-to-back defeats to Australia in the Sydney and Melbourne Test matches, the Indian team management is wary that responses to tweets could cause a storm and hence instructed playeers to stay away from their keypads.