Virat Kohli gets 'pretty emotional', send-off to me was not right: Steve Smith

Melbourne, Jan 28: Australia batsman Steve Smith has reacted to the send-off he received from India's Virat Kohli during the 1st Twenty20 International at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday (January 26).

Ind-Aus series schedule

A fired up Kohli gave an angry send-off to Smith (21 off 14 balls) after he took a catch to dismiss the batsman. The Indian was unhappy that Smith was giving commentating on the match while batting.

Smith had been mic'd up with "Channel 9", the host broadcaster, during the contest. As soon as the Australian Test and ODI skipper got out to left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, Kohli gestured with his right hand indicating Smith was talkative. ('Excitable dude Kohli gets into trouble')

The dismissal of Smith has led to a debate whether players should be wired up and talking to commentators during a game. However, the batsman defended it.

Talking about the send-off from 27-year-old Kohli, the Australian right-hander felt it was not necessary but added the Indian vice-captain "gets pretty emotional".

"I don't think you need to do that kind of thing when someone gets out," Smith told "Fox Sports".

"It's fine to have a little bit of banter when you're out in the field, but when someone's out I don't really think that's on. He gets pretty emotional out there, doesn't he?," he added.

"It was on at the time but for me it was just a bad shot," Smith said dismissing suggestions that he was distracted by commentary.

"I tried to chip one over the top for two rather than trying to hit him for four or six. It was my fault and I've just got to be better next time," he said.

Both Kohli and Smith will come face to face again tomorrow (January 29) in Melbourne as India and Australia meet in the 2nd T20I. The series ends on January 31 (Sunday) in Sydney. India hold a 1-0 lead after winning by 37 runs in Adelaide.

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