When Virat Kohli Was Irked by Pakistani Journalist's Silly Question

image-lmab0wl3Mohammad Amir celebrates after dismissing Virat Kohli in Champions Trophy 2017 (Twitter)

In the aftermath of a high-profile match, particularly one that doesn't go as expected, the last thing a player – especially the captain – wishes for is a nonsensical question from the media. The Champions Trophy 2017 final was one such occasion when former Indian captain, Virat Kohli had to display not just his cricketing intellect but also his patience and composure.


Kohli's patience was tested by a Pakistani journalist's illogical question

India faced a mammoth defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Pakistan, losing by a staggering 180 runs. The weight of the loss was evident, with players and fans alike struggling to come to terms with the unexpected outcome. As is customary, Kohli was tasked with the unenviable duty of addressing the media in the post-match press conference.

Having already dealt with a slew of tough questions at the post-match presentation, Kohli seemed prepared for anything the press would throw at him. However, a puzzling query took the Indian skipper by surprise.

A Pakistani journalist, possibly attempting to find a silver lining or point out the few favourable moments for India, quizzed, "You won the toss and got a wicket on the no-ball. Did you feel any pleasant moment in the match?" The ambiguity of the question left Kohli momentarily befuddled.

The journalist, realizing that his query might not have been framed accurately, tried to clarify, "You got the wicket of a no-ball (Bumrah had dismissed Fakhar off a no-ball). I think it's a pleasant moment in the match. Did you think of any other pleasant moment in the match?"

Kohli, summoning all the grace he could muster and wearing a wry smile, responded, "How can a no-ball be a pleasant moment for me?"



He then turned to his media manager, who also seemed confounded by the unusual line of questioning. They promptly moved on to the next reporter, but not before Kohli openly questioned the logic behind the query.

Six years since, the Champions Trophy 2017 final is not only remembered for the shock defeat India suffered but also for the quirks that arose during the post-match interactions.