Spectators at Lord’s popped corks towards KL Rahul during the third day of the second England-India Test, with the India opener and Virat Kohli speaking to the umpires soon after.
Sign up to The Cricket Draft, powered by Wisden, an all-new, free-to-play fantasy game running alongside The Hundred, to win prizes and compete with your friends.
Kohli was then seen seemingly encouraging the day one centurion to throw a cork back at the crowd, with Rahul then doing so, and a crowd member catching the item.
#Kohli mass 🔥🔥
Crowd threw something on the ground where KL Rahul is standing !
Kohli signals KL to throw it out of the ground#ENGvIND #Kohli#IndvsEng pic.twitter.com/ZjIRm3JEqj
— HITMAN (@MGR_VJ) August 14, 2021
It’s a common sight to see the Lord’s outfield littered with corks, with champagne a favoured tipple among spectators at the Home of Cricket. However, the number of champagne stoppers surrounding Rahul suggested there had been a sustained barrage.
This being Lord's there may be a crayfish baguette coming his way soon. https://t.co/I33Kwp4ya1
— Rory Dollard (@thervd) August 14, 2021
There were complaints from India fans and journalists on social media about the incident.
Crowd at Lord's chucking bottle corks at KL Rahul fielding at boundary. @ECB_cricket needs to oversee security checks it! #ENGvIND
— Arani Basu (@AraniBasuTOI) August 14, 2021
Virat Kohli signaling to KL Rahul to throw it back to the crowd – Terrible from the crowd to throw some things to the players.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 14, 2021
This is Unacceptable. England crowd was throwing something towards KL Rahul. #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/cUAGSYcor6
— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) August 14, 2021