Virat Kohli has been criticised in the Indian media for his aggressive mid-pitch collision with teen Aussie rookie Sam Konstas, with the incident branded unbecoming for a cricket great.
Watch every ball of Australia v India LIVE & ad-break free during play in 4K on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
As the 19-year-old debutant carted the touring bowling attack to all parts of the MCG on Boxing Day, Kohli became increasingly frustrated with Konstas’ bold stroke play, before enforcing front-on contact with the opener at the end of the 10th over.
He escaped with just a fine.
Writing for the Indian Express, Venkata Krishna B noted that Kohli had won fans in Australia in the past with his aggression.
“Not this time though. Without any provocation, Kohli walked across the pitch and bumped shoulders with 19-year-old debutant Sam Konstas. Heated moments when Kohli is on the field aren’t new. But a physical contact with an opponent goes against the spirit of the ethos that the game is built on. Being a senior player and arguably global cricket’s biggest ambassador, better behaviour is expected from Kohli. He isn’t a brash 20-year-old, who wants to hush up his doubters any more.
“On Thursday, there is every reason for everyone including match referee Andy Pycroft to believe Kohli has taken it too far against a debutant, who had picked him as a hero. It will definitely not go down as a proud moment for Kohli, who in the past has been gracious.
“If anything Konstas’ audacity and his intent to take the bull by the horns should have won him a huge fan in Kohli. But the 19-year-old realised what “never meet your heroes” actually means. Kohli’s conduct will be reprimanded. He may not earn enough demerit points to miss the next Test, but Kohli may have lost a fan in Konstas.”
The Times of India likened the interaction to one of which you would usually see on the Melbourne Cricket Ground; only playing in the AFL, not cricket.
“The encounter resembled a scene from an Australian rules football game. The two players (Konstas and Kohli) bumped into each other and exchanged words,” wrote the Indian publication.
“Usman Khawaja, Konstas’ opening partner, intervened to escalate the situation. Umpire Michael Gough also stepped in to mediate.
“Neither player backed down during the exchange.”
The Hindustan Times seized upon Usman Khawaja’s role in the flashpoint, asking ‘what was that about?’ and picking up an ABC Radio interview after the veteran opener put his arm around Kohli as he exchanged words with Konstas.
“I’ve known Virat a long time. He came to the academy when I was in the Under-19. We’ve been mates for a long time. So I was like, ‘Chill, go out. I’ll talk to him. You chill; and I’ll sort this out’. Yeah, it was fine,” Khawaja said, otherwise keeping the exchange low-key.
“You don’t need to know everything. Come on guys, seriously. What goes on the field, stays on the field.”
Elsewhere, the Hindustan Times was full of praise for Konstas and his ability to rattle Kohli in a way that fans haven’t seen in years.
“Debutant Sam Konstas rocked India in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne with his imaginative batting,” an article begun by saying.
“His audacious way of charging down the track and then reverse-ramping the world’s best bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, got India unsettled on Day 1 of the fourth Test match.
“(After the 10th over) Kohli picked up the ball and moved purposefully in Konstas’ direction. The Australian teenager did not change direction, and neither did the Indian legend, as they ended up bumping into each other.
“Kohli turned back and hurled a few words, and so did Konstas. Khawaja was quick to spot the tension rising. He separated the two by putting his arm around Kohli. The on-field umpires also had a word Kohli and Konstas.”
And writing for the Indian Express, Sriram Veera was blunt on the two-person encounter, conceding it was far from a good look for the former leader.
“It looked bad. Virat Kohli, a former captain, cut across from his initial position on the leg side of play, with the ball in his hand, walked beside the pitch where Sam Konstas was returning back from the other end. And the shoulder barge happened,” Veera wrote on Thursday afternoon.
The journalist also pointed out that Kohli was once cited for a very similar incident involving South African Beuran Hendricks during a T20I in Bengalaru, where he received a demerit point and an official warning.
