In the 2019 India vs Australia World Cup match, Steve Smith faced boos from the crowd at Kennington Oval due to his involvement in the ball-tampering incident. The incident marked his return to international cricket after serving a ban. As Smith fielded in the deep for Australia, some fans continued to boo him, which didn't sit well with the then-Indian captain Virat Kohli. Kohli gestured to the fans to stop booing and Smith appreciated the gesture by patting Kohli on the back and shaking his hand.
After the match, Kohli explained his actions, stating that Smith's mistake was in the past and he was now trying to play well for his side. Kohli didn't feel it was fair to see Smith being booed every time he played, as he didn't deserve such treatment.
