Jimmy Neesham’s Tweet teases Virat Kohli over sledging Johnny Bairstow

The ongoing test match between England and India saw a fiery exchange between Virat Kohli and English batsman Johnny Bairstow. While Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah troubled Bairstow with the ball, Kohli was seen sledging the batsman. Bairstow reacted to Kohli’s comments triggering a heated argument and decided to switch gears.

Soon, the English lad started putting the pressure back on the bowlers and smashing them to the covers. Eventually, Bairstow hit his third consecutive hundred off 119 balls, his 11th overall and first against India in tests. Bairstow’s century was laden with 14 fours and two sixes, coming at a crucial time when England was bleeding at 84/5 on Day 3 of the rescheduled fifth test match.

Teasing Virat Kohli, New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham tweeted,


“Why do opposing teams keep making Jonny Bairstow angry lol, he gets 10x better. Give him a gift basket each morning, let him know you’re having his car valeted while he’s batting. Anything to keep him happy.”

Interestingly, Kohli caught Bairstow’s catch at first slip off Shami, ending the English wicket-keeper’s innings at 106 (140). Neesham was not alone in teasing Kohli. Legendary former Indian opener Virender Sehwag also was among those ‘trolling’ Kohli for sledging Bairstow.

He mentioned in a tweet that Bairstow’s strike rate before the sledging was 21, which jumped to 150 after Kohli sledged him. He also said that Bairstow was playing like Pujara, but Kohli’s sledging turned Bairstow into Pant.

The ongoing test match is a part of a five-match series, which was postponed in 2021 after a few members of the Indian camp tested positive for COVID19. After a shaky start, the Indians posted 416 in the first inning, courtesy of a flamboyant 146 off 111 from Rishab Pant and a gutsy 104 off 194 from Ravindra Jadeja. In reply, England was bowled out for 284 to give India a 132-run lead going into the second innings.