The spirit of Christmas has done nothing to improve Virat Kohli’s temper.
Days after the Indian superstar took exception to local media when he arrived in Melbourne, Kohli had an on-field flashpoint with Australian debutant Sam Konstas at the start of the Boxing Day Test.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting had no doubt Kohli had initiated the contact, with the Indian veteran and the Australian teenager bumping shoulders after the 10th over.
“Look at the way Virat walks. Virat walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation – no doubt in my mind whatsoever,” Ponting said on the Seven Network.
“I have no doubt that the umpires and the referee will have a good look at that.”
Konstas was clearly riling the tourists in the midst of his astonishing Test debut. Moments before he and Kohli bumped shoulders, paceman Mohammed Siraj had given the teenager a mouthful.
Immediately after the contact, Konstas turned in surprise and Kohli reacted, as if to suggest it was the Australian’s fault. Fellow opener Usman Khawaja, an amused spectator to Konstas’s batting fireworks, stepped in and put an arm around Kohli as he played peacemaker.
Photograph: James Ross/AAP
Konstas reacted to the incident in the best-possible way, belting the first ball of Jasprit Bumrah’s next over for four on the way to making 60.
After he was dismissed, Konstas said the incident had caught him by surprise.
“I think the emotions got to both of us. I didn’t quite realise, I was doing my gloves and then a little shoulder charge. It happens, it’s cricket,” he told the Seven Network.
Umpire Michael Gough also had words with Kohli and Konstas.
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The 19-year-old showed nerves of steel on debut by attacking Bumrah – the world’s No 1 ranked bowler who took 21 wickets during the first three Tests to repeatedly destroy Australia’s top order.
Bumrah failed to take a wicket during the first session, as Australia went to lunch at 1-112 with Usman Khawaja (38) and Marnus Labuschagne (12) unbeaten.
Konstas was eventually lbw for 60 from 65 balls, 30 minutes before lunch to star spinner Ravindra Jadeja, but not before putting together an innings that will go down in Australian cricket folklore.
“(Konstas) has definitely gotten up their nose a little bit,” Ponting said. “Yes, he’s flustered them. Yes, he’s got up their nose. Yes, there is some frustration out there.”
Kohli had a bad start to his visit to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test, taking local TV reporters to task when they filmed members of his family at the airport.
Other than his unbeaten 100 in the first Test, Kohli has not scored more than 11.
With the Border-Gavaskar series delicately poised at one-all, India need a big innings at the MCG from their take-no-prisoners star.
