WATCH: Fan invades pitch to hug Virat Kohli during MCG Test match

Australia began day two of the MCG Test hoping to add more runs to their overnight score of 311/6. Early on Friday, there was a case of pitch intrusion when a fan ran onto the field. The fan in question was seen running into hug former India skipper Virat Kohli and was later escorted by the security. 

Fans have been divided over the conduct of Virat Kohli since his spat with Sam Konstas on Thursday. The former India skipper will be looking to put all that behind and score huge runs when the visitors come out to bat. As far as pitch intrusion is concerned this isn’t the first time Virat Kohli or Indian cricketers have faced such a situation. 

Pitch invader huggs Kohli 😭 pic.twitter.com/RAz81zkfWc

— `rR (@ryandesa_7) December 27, 2024

During the 2023 ODI World Cup match between India and Australia, noted England fan Jarrod came onto the field. He was eventually ushered off the ground and strict action was taken against him. Many fans have been known to come onto the field to show affection to their favorite stars. 

Irfan Pathan backs Virat Kohli to bat well in MCG

Former India star Irfan Pathan expects Virat Kohli to bat well at the MCG and has urged him to take a leaf out of Sachin Tendulkar’s book. The 36-year-old has failed to score runs since his century during the second innings of the Perth Test. It is to be noted that in each of the innings since, Kohli has fallen to the line outside the off stump. 

During his chat on Star Sports, Irfan Pathan said, “Absolutely, there won't be a bigger opportunity than this because the series is at stake. It's embedded in his mind that he needs to leave balls outside the off-stump. When the match was ongoing on the first day, he was shadow-practicing that he needs to leave the ball. The discipline he was talking about, he needs to translate that into execution”

The 40-year-old added, “We expect him to bat with full passion and bring that discipline. I would also say that can he bring the square cut out. He doesn't play the sweep shot, but still plays them in between. So can he bring the square cut out because he will be trapped by bowling outside off-stump?"

“If he doesn't get runs there, it will be a test of his patience. We talk about Sachin paaji, that he had scored a double hundred, but Sachin paaji's range was incredible. He could play behind square on the off-side and front of square on the off-side off the back foot” also added Irfan Pathan during his chat with Star Sports.