Virat Kohli under the microscope after clash with kid Sam Konstas
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India's Virat Kohli reacts to an appeal on Day 1 of the fourth cricket Test match between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
PHOTO: AFP
MELBOURNE – Virat Kohli’s conduct came under the microscope in the Boxing Day Test, after a clash of shoulders with teen debutant Sam Konstas but the incident did little to knock the Australian wonder boy off his stride.
With Konstas well on top of India’s bowlers on Day 1, Kohli was booed at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, after bumping into the 19-year-old as he walked down the pitch for a chat with opening partner Usman Khawaja at the end of the 10th over.
Kohli and Konstas turned to face each other and exchanged words, prompting umpire Michael Gough and Khawaja to step in to defuse the moment.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who was covering the game for Seven Network, said veteran batter Kohli was clearly the offender.
“That man (Kohli) might have a few questions to answer,” he said. “When you’re out there batting, the batsman owns the wicket. The crease is his, especially between overs like that.”
Former England captain Michael Vaughan also put the blame on 36-year-old Kohli. “Virat Kohli is such an experienced pro, being wound up by a 19-year-old,” the Fox Cricket pundit said. “It’s Virat that walks into Sam.”
Konstas appeared unruffled by the clash, smashing Jasprit Bumrah for four on the next delivery and hitting a six over the Indian pace spearhead’s head on the way to 18 runs from the over.
He downplayed the incident in a brief interview with Fox Cricket during a drinks break, before Australia went to stumps at 311 for six.
“Whatever (happens) on the field stays on the field. I love competing. It doesn’t get any better for a debut at a packed stadium,” he said.
“I think he accidentally bumped me, but I think that’s just cricket, just the tension,” he told reporters.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) bans “inappropriate physical contact” and those found guilty can be suspended for matches if the offence is deemed serious enough.
Kohli took a 20 per cent cut to his match fee and one demerit point, leaving him free to play the fifth and final Test in Sydney.
“No formal hearing was needed as Kohli accepted the sanctions propsed by match referee Andy Pycroft,” the ICC said.
India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar told reporters he had not seen the incident and that emotions were natural in a big game.
“But I’m pretty sure that it’s not as big as it seems,” he said.
Batting maestro Kohli had shrugged off a dire run of form with a century in the series-opener in Perth but has managed just 21 runs in three innings since in the series.
With the temperature racing past 30 deg C in the morning, his mood may not have been helped by Konstas surviving a nick off Bumrah that fell just short of him in the slips.
He had earlier laughed openly at Konstas when the teenager botched two attempts to scoop Bumrah behind the wicket. But there was little mirth among the Indians as Konstas succeeded on his next three efforts, scoring boundaries on each.
Having also smashed fiery seamer Mohammed Siraj around the ground, Konstas was eventually dismissed for 60 off 65 balls when trapped leg before wicket by Ravindra Jadeja before lunch. REUTERS
