Kohli clarifies Smith send-off

Virat Kohli, under fire for giving Steven Smith a send-off during the first Twenty20 International at the Adelaide Oval, voiced his opinion on the incident on Friday (January 29) and clarified that he wasn't aware the Australian Test captain was mic'd up around the time of his dismissal.

Kohli, who took the catch at extra cover to put an end to Smith's knock, made a 'chatterbox' hand gesture before exchanging few words. Between the innings break, during the second T20 game on Friday, Kohli explained to Wide World of Sports commentator Michael Slater that his reaction and send-off was due to Smith's chatter directed at India's young bowlers - Hardik Pandya in particular, who he had earlier hit for a boundary.

The 27-year-old also categorically stated that he wasn't aware of the fact that Smith was indeed on the microphone with Channel Nine's commentary team.

"The thing is, this has been taken in the wrong way," Kohli told Wide World of Sports commentator Michael Slater when asked if he had sledged Smith because the batsman had been distracted by the microphone."I had no idea he had the mic' on. He was sort of having a go at our junior bowlers after hitting a boundary he was having a go at them. So I told the umpires to keep an eye (on the situation), otherwise I would have to step in.

"They did nothing, and in the end I just told him that he can go talk in the change room now. The bowlers were telling me, 'He's going at us', but they are not saying anything back. It had nothing to do with the commentary I want to make it pretty clear, because there's been a lot of confusion about it," Kohli concluded.

Prior to the Allan Border Medal ceremony on Wednesday night, Smith had hit back at Kohli for the send-off, saying that the Indian vice-captain's behaviour was uncalled for.

"(Kohli) gets pretty emotional out there, doesn't he? I don't think you need to do that kind of thing when someone gets out. 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 thats really on," Smith told Fox Sports.

Smith, however, took full responsibility of his dismissal, admitting that he played a bat shot to get out. "It was on at the time but for me it was just a bad shot," Smith said. "I tried to chip one over the top for two rather than trying to hit him for four or six. So it was my fault and I've just got to be better next time.