Australian Cricketers as Bully and Racist Crowd: 5 Biggest IND vs AUS Controversies - In Pics

Back in 2012, Virat Kohli carried this image of a brash, angry kid from Delhi who took on everyone, from opponents to fans, if they had something negative to say to him. He later used the same energy to focus on his batting and reach greatness on the cricket field. But before that, there was this 2012 Test in Australia in which Kohli showed middle finger to the crowd and was later called in by match referee Ranjan Madugalle who almost banned him for a few Tests for his silly act. Kohli showing his middle finger to the crowd which was bullying him from the ropes was all over the newspapers in Australia and Kohli till date thanks Madugalle for understanding that a youngster can get carried away in such a hostile atmosphere as he did not ban the Indian batter. (Image source: Twitter)

In the Sydney Test on 2021 tour, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj was racially abused by the fans who were near the ropes when the cricketer was fielding in the deep. Later Jasprit Bumrah too complained of the same and umpires intervened. Indian team lodged an official complaint with match referee David Boon. The visitors were told they could leave the match but India captain Ajinkya Rahane decided to carry on playing. India drew that Test match with valiant effort from Hanuma Vihari and R Ashwin with the bat and later won the series as well. (Image source: Twitter)

India legend Sunil Gavaskar was not the one who would take the sledge and move on. He was someone who would reply in some way or the other. In 1981 during the MCG Test between India and Australia, he asked batting partner Chetan Chauhan to walk off the field with him and stop the match after Aussie pacer Dennis Lillee, who was known for his sledging to batters, abused India opener and his teammate after getting him out. It was only after Team manager Shahid Durani and assistant manager Bapu Nadkarni's intervened that the things calmed down and Chauhan returned to resume innings. (Image source: Twitter)

Steve Smith was Australia captain in 2017 when they toured India for four-match Test series and in the Bengaluru Test, Smith did something which is not in the rulebook and it led to umpire and India captain Virat Kohli getting upset. Smith was ruled out LBW against the bowling of Umesh Yadav. In order to use DRS, he started asking the dressing room for some help and that made Kohli upset. India captain complained to the umpire Nigel Llong who asked Smith to leave the pitch. Later, Smith said that he had a 'brain fade' moment and felt regret for his act. (Image source: Twitter)

During the Sydney Test of 2008, the late Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds accused India spinner Harbhajan Singh of passing a racial slur on him. Symonds had said that Bhajji called him 'Monkey' while the spinner defended himself by saying that he had yelled 'Teri Maa Ki' and not 'Monkey', which is a commonly used Indian slur. The matter went to the federal court where the judge found no concrete evidence to ban Harbhajan from the sport. It was popularly called the Monkey Gate scandal. Later, Bhajji and Symonds became friends when they started playing for Mumbai Indians in IPL. (Image source: Twitter)