Virender Sehwag calls British media poor losers after ball-tampering allegations on Virat Kohli

New Delhi: Soon after South African caption Faf du Plesis was found guilty of ball-tampering by ICC, a video featuring Virat Kohli allegedly manipulating the ball in a similar manner was published by the British media.

Since the footage was of first Test in Rajkot, no formal action could be taken against the Indian Test skipper's alleged action as a complaint was required within 5 days of commission of the alleged offence.

Now, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has hit out at British media for spoiling Kohli's image.

As reported by Hindustan Times, Sehwag said, “The team that ends on the losing side often tries to raise a few issues.”

“Perhaps the England team hasn’t gone on to do it (raise the issue) but the English media has. I feel one should accept defeats in a graceful manner… We never gave excuses when we lost matches abroad. We used to accept that we didn’t play well when we lost a game.”

Viru also jumped to the defense of Faf du Plesis stating, “Faf shouldn’t be bothered about this as he did nothing wrong. You’re allowed to have toffees, lollies, etc. and you’re also allowed to apply saliva to shine the ball.

“So I really don’t know what’s wrong with that. It’s not like someone is applying something else other than saliva.”

While Virat escaped any possible charge, Faf was fined with his match fee after ICC found him breaching Level 2 Code of Conduct. The South African captain later went to exercise his option of challenging the charge by ICC, to which the cricket governing body expressed huge disappointment.

Match referee Andy Pycroft found du Plessis guilty at an ICC hearing in Adelaide this week. It is the second time he has been fined for ball-tampering, after he was docked 50 percent of his match fee in 2013 in the second Test against Pakistan.