We need more Virats – Vaughan defends Kohli after he was slammed for mocking Barmy Army

India skipper Virat Kohli was slammed for mocking Barmy Army in the fourth Test against England at the Oval. When the Indian team was heading towards victory, Virat used trumpet and pointed 10 fingers at the Barmy Army. The incident took place when Jasprit dismissed Ollie Pope.

Cricket writer Lawrence Booth took a dig at Virat Kohli. “To clear up any confusion, I don’t really love this. I find it weird when a top-class sportsman isn’t content with winning a game, having totally outplayed the opposition, but wants to stick it to the fans too,” he wrote.

To clear up any confusion, I don't really love this. I find it weird when a top-class sportsman isn't content with winning a game, having totally outplayed the opposition, but wants to stick it to the fans too. https://t.co/s2LJi4HnuK

— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) September 6, 2021

However, former England skipper Michael Vaughan defended the Indian captain and lauded him.

“Virat Kohli is an incredible leader,” the 2005 Ashes-winning captain told Fox Sports’ The Back Page.

“He’s just got this buzz of energy. He was taking the piss out of the Barmy Army with these trumpet signs. I love it. We don’t have enough characters in the game and mimicking the crowd, trying to get his own supporters going.”

He further added that those who thought Kohli’s gesture is not good for the game don’t understand the meaning of entertainment.

“Those that complain are just boring,” the former top-order batsman said. “They don’t understand entertainment.”

“We’re in the entertainment industry where we need people like Virat Kohli. We need characters.

“You go back to the 80s and 90s there was character (after character). We work with them; Shane Warne is one of the great characters, an absolute great guy, mad as a box of frogs. But you know that you’ve got a great character in the commentary box and on the field, and when you get someone like Virat Kohli, who stands out because we don’t have a lot of characters, there are not many teams that have characters who are willing to do what Virat does, and he’s very prickly, he doesn’t like criticism, he’s always answering back to anyone that criticizes him, again, I like that, it’s not a problem,” Vaughan added.