Virat Kohli has been slammed for a ‘shameless’ act towards Australian debutant Sam Konstas as the 19-year-old took day one of the Boxing Day Test by the scruff of the neck. Australia’s youngest Test opener made one of the most remarkable starts to an international career by boldly taking on Indian superstars Jasprit Bumrah and Kohli in front of 90,000 fans at the MCG on Thursday.
Konstas showed nerves of steel attacking Bumrah – the world’s No.1 ranked bowler who took 21 wickets during the first three Tests – from the outset, with the Indian side clearly rattled by his fearless approach. And in sweltering Melbourne heat Kohli got all hot and bothered by the young Aussie’s range of daring strokes and tried to intimidate him. But cricket greats Ricky Ponting and Michael Vaughan feel he overstepped the mark.
An animated Kohli was seen sledging Konstas from the outset but things got heated when he dropped the shoulder into the Aussie teen at the end of the 10th over. As Konstas walked down the pitch to meet with his opening batting partner Usman Khawaja, Kohli made a beeline for the young Aussie, shouldering him in a bizarre act of aggression.
The pair then exchanged some words before Khawaja and the umpire intervened. Konstas didn’t seem too troubled by it though as he notched three boundaries the following over and before too long brought up his maiden half-century.
Speaking at the drinks break, the 19-year-old shrugged off the Kohli encounter saying: “Whatever happens on the field stays on the field”. But the cricket world wasn’t impressed at all, with Ponting calling out Kohli’s actions on Channel 7 saying: “Have a look where Virat walks. Virat’s walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever.”
While on Fox Cricket, England great Michael Vaughan said: “He had India rattled. You can clearly see Virat is to blame, he made his way directly for Sam.”
“Virat Kohli is a senior pro in the game and he’s just got rattled by a 19-year-old by playing in the fashion that he’s done. I don’t know what the match referee will do but I am pretty sure Virat will watch this back and think wait a minute I have got this wrong. He has completely acted wrong. Why has a senior pro got rattled by a 19-year-old on his debut.”
Kerry O’Keeffe was equally damning in his assessment of the former captain. “Did he view Konstas as too arrogant on debut?” O’Keeffe exclaimed. “Virat has built his entire career on arrogance and suddenly he identified that in a debutant and seemed to resent that. You can’t do that, I think he’s in trouble.”
The reality is the former Indian captain will have plenty to answer for with the match referee. The ICC’s Code of Conduct states that “any form of inappropriate physical contact is prohibited in cricket. Without limitation, players will breach this regulation if they deliberately, recklessly and/or negligently walk or run into or shoulder another player or umpire”.
If the match referee deems the Konstas-Kohli contact to be a Level Two offence against either player, that player would receive three or four demerit points. Four points would be enough to trigger a suspension for the New Year’s Test in Sydney.
Virat Kohli bro come on Sam Konstas is a 19 year old debutant. Show some class and respect towards him.
This is unnecessary. Kohli is bringing shame to this beautiful game.😥
— 𝐉𝐨𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐞 (@jod_insane) December 26, 2024
A 19-year-old debutant has Virat Kohli rattled hahaha
— Jacob Gaynor (@JacobGaynor) December 26, 2024
Virat Kohli picking on an 18 year old but not doing it just verbally, but physically. Tells you a lot about the bloke and how angry he’s been during this series. When he’s not getting his own way he just doesn’t like it. #BoxingDayTest
— Gavin Flanagan (@gavflano) December 26, 2024
No, Virat Kohli, you can’t do that! Why would you do that to a kid making his debut? Absolutely shameless and disgraceful this coming from a player of your stature #BGT2024 #AUSvIND
— Ramachandra.M| ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರ.ಎಮ್ (@nanuramu) December 26, 2024
Sam Konstas’ audacious approach wows MCG crowd
Coming in for axed opener Nathan McSweeney, Konstas survived a brutal first over from Bumrah when he played and missed four times to rattle India. The 19-year-old’s first runs, a two off his legs, were cheered like he had reached a milestone before launching in extraordinary fashion.
Konstas failed at playing three ramp shots off Bumrah, before taking the 30-year-old for 14 runs, including a six, off one jaw-dropping over. By the ninth over, India had reverted to putting fielders out to the boundary in a bid to put an end to the New South Welshman’s attacking attitude.
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A villain of the Australian crowds this summer, Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj fired off to Konstas multiple times as well, but the 19-year-old remained unfazed. The fearless right-hander reached his fifty in just 52 balls in a bit more than an hour at the crease. But he couldn’t add many more, dismissed for 60 off 65 balls, trapped LBW by Ravindra Jadeja.
with AAP
