Kohli-Faulkner's face-off (Source:@ImTanujSingh/x.com)
An exceptional batter with limitless hunger, a fearless captain obsessed with victory, and a leader who always stood by his teammates - that’s Virat Kohli in a nutshell. But what truly sets him apart is his aggression, the fiery spark that became the slow-burning force behind India’s rise to glory.
The cricketing world has often seen Virat Kohli’s fiery side, with his on-field aggression sparking intense duels with opposition bowlers. Amidst all his fiery spats with Australian bowling superstar James Faulkner in 2016 is still fresh in fans’ memories. Let’s revisit the fiery clash.
Faulkner’s tactics ignite Kohli’s fire mid-game
As cricket is always entertaining, some of the fiery moments add drama to the clashes. If the topic is aggression, how can Virat Kohli stay away? The former Indian has redefined the word ‘Aggression’, and the cricket world witnessed some of the unforgettable moments.
The Indian star has never let a moment slip without challenging the opposition. His fierce battles with Australia remained iconic, but the Kohli–Faulkner showdown still stands out as a classic chapter in the storied India–Australia rivalry.
Back in 2016, Team India and Australia faced each other in a white-ball series, and the excitement soared to the sky. Batting first, the Men in Blue lost a quick wicket as Rohit Sharma walked away scoring just 6 runs. As the classic battle between two giants was going on, the drama ignited in the mid way.
In the 35th over, Kohli was dominating over the Aussies while eyeing the century, and Faulkner entered the scene. True to Aussie tradition, James Faulkner unleashed a dose of trademark sledging, hoping to rattle the Indian star. But Kohli, unfazed and fiery, hit back with intensity, making the moment memorable forever.
Giving a sharp jab to the Aussie star, Kohli said, “You're wasting your energy. There's no point; I've smashed you enough in my life. Just go and bowl.” The small yet fiery response caught the air and spat became iconic in the history of the India-Australia battle.
Kohli demolishes Australia’s mind games on the field
It says, pressure brings out the best from Virat Kohli as he is called the ‘chase master’. But there is another mystery spice that brings the best out of the King, is called challenge. After Hitman walked away early, Kohli stood talking against the lethal bowling attack. Stitching with a 119-run partnership with Shikhar Dhawan, Kohli led the way with all courage.
Demolishing the Aussie attack, Kohli secured a half-century, and later on, transformed it into a spectacular century, marking 24th ODI ton, and the Aussie bowlers kept guessing the way to dismiss Virat. In the 47th over, John Hastings finally hit the jackpot, and Kohli walked away scoring only 117 runs in 117 balls with seven boundaries and two over-boundaries.
Virat Kohli has thousands of fiery on-field battles with players across the globe, but his performance against Australia has always grabs the attention. From the early days of his career to the present days, the fiery duel between Virat Kohli and the mighty Aussies has always kept fans on the edge of their seats.
With a defining aura and an unyielding mindset to give 100% in every moment, he stands out like no other. His intense face-off with James Faulkner remains one of the most thrilling chapters of his career.
