NEWS
Follow UsThe first session of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) did not disappoint as 19-year-old Sam Konstas, on Test debut, produced a display for the ages, hammering 60 off 65 balls to stun and rattle the Indian bowlers. The highlight of Konstas’ knock turned out to be how he slammed Jasprit Bumrah, not only taking 34 off 33 balls off India’s talisman but borderline humiliating him with audacious scoops and reverse-scoops.
However, Konstas' 65-ball stay also had a lot of spice and controversy, mainly thanks to Virat Kohli. After the 10th over of the innings, during the change of overs, Kohli "intentionally" barged into the teenager before giving him a staredown. Extended replays showed that the Indian veteran instigated the contact, changing direction to "intentionally" get in the way of the youngster.
WATCH: Virat Kohli gets into a physical altercation with debutant Sam Konstas
The incident revved up the crowd, but it did not go down well with commentators, experts, and former and active cricketers, who took to social media to express their displeasure over Kohli’s actions.
Here’s what the cricketing world said about the Kohli-Konstas confrontation
Alyssa Healy: If that’s how India want to approach it, then so be it
“It’s a tricky one. Probably more disappointing than anything else that your experienced player, one of your best players in the country, as well is quite visibly looking at the wider picture and made a beeline for the youngest player in the opposition. It doesn’t really set the greatest tone for your side. But if that’s one way the Indian team wants to approach it, so be it. But it didn’t rattle him one bit,” Healy said on air.
Harsha Bhogle: I don’t think it was necessary
“To be honest, I don’t know what that achieves... they’ve resolved that quickly enough. But I don’t think it was necessary,” Bhogle said on air.
Ricky Ponting: Kohli might have a few questions to answer
"Virat walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever,” Ponting said on Channel Seven.
"I have no doubt that the umpires and the referee will have a good look at that. Fielders should be nowhere near the batsman at that stage. Every fieldsman on the ground knows where the batsmen will congregate and get together.
"It looked to me that Konstas looked up really late, wouldn’t even know anyone is in front of him. That man on-screen there (Kohli) might have a few questions to answer."
Michael Vaughan: Kohli will not be proud of his actions
"Konstas was going his way. Look at Virat. He has changed direction. Virat is an all-time great. He is vastly experienced. He would look back and say, 'Why did I do this?'"
Ravi Shastri: Totally unnecessary from Kohli
"It is unnecessary, totally unnecessary, you don't want to see that. Especially Virat, he's a senior player, he's been a captain of the side. He will have his own explanations, but it is something you don't want to see."
Theo Doropoulos, former Australia first-class cricketer: Kohli acted like a 19-year-old
“Kohli absolutely deserves a sanction for this. Cannot be tolerated on the cricket field. Konstas in India’s head like you’ve never seen. They are rattled. The best player of a generation acting like he’s the 19-year old kid,” Doropoulos wrote on X.
