Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli is picking up praise for a gesture of his during the India vs Australia match at the ongoing World Cup 2019, on Sunday.
During the course of the match, when Australia's Steve Smith was sent to field near the boundary line, at the Vauxhall end, a section of the Indian contingent in the stands began booing the player, with chants that went, ‘cheater’ over and over again.
Kohli is said to have actually stepped up to the stands and gestured at the crowd not to boo at Smith. Instead, in a show of solidarity, he urged the Indian fans to cheer for Smith.
The act has been garnering a lot of praise on social media as the skipper's 'show of class' on the grounds.
The incident came to light after Sam Landsberger, a cricket journalist, tweeted about it to his followers. 'Wow. How good is this from Virat Kohli?' wrote Sam.
'Steve Smith is sent to field on the boundary and immediately cops the most hideous boos from the Indian fans. So Kohli turns to that stand and gestures for them to clap Smith. #CWC19,' said the tweet.
Both Steve Smith and David Warner have been facing the brunt of fans in recent times, and Kohli's act is being hailed as a fine act of sportsmanship.