Controversy erupts between Virat Kohli & Sam Konstas in Boxing Day Test

KATHMANDU: A controversy erupted during the ongoing Boxing Day Test between India and Australia, involving Indian batter Virat Kohli and Australian debutant batter Sam Konstas.

The incident took place on the first day of the fourth Test in Melbourne on Thursday, as part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

After winning the toss, Australia opted to bat, with young 19-year-old Sam Konstas making his debut alongside experienced opener Usman Khawaja.

From the start of the match, Konstas seemed to dominate the Indian bowlers, particularly targeting India’s star bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

His aggressive start had the Indian bowlers on the back foot, and India struggled to take wickets, with even captain Rohit Sharma’s efforts falling short.

The situation escalated when Kohli, a seasoned player, appeared to deliberately bump into Constas. This interaction has quickly become a topic of debate within the international cricket community.

Kohli’s action occurred as Konstas, having just played a shot, was walking toward the non-striker’s end, and Kohli seemingly collided with him.

Following the incident, Konstas was seen saying something to Kohli in the video, and Kohli appeared to respond angrily.

The situation was defused when Khawaja and the umpire intervened, urging both players to calm down.

The incident has sparked widespread discussion, with many criticizing Kohli’s behavior. While Kohli’s supporters argue that the bump was unintentional, others believe it was deliberate.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan called for the match referee to review Kohli’s actions, suggesting that Kohli, with his vast experience, would later regret his actions.

Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting also criticized Kohli, stating that it was Kohli’s fault for initiating the incident. Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri echoed this sentiment, insisting that the match referee should investigate the matter further.

Indian cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar stated that Kohli had no excuse for his actions, pointing out that if someone is walking in their own path, the other player should give way.

In response, Constas, during a break in play, acknowledged that such incidents are common on the field and maintained that he holds Kohli in high regard as a player.

Former umpire Simon Taufel also suggested that Kohli could face disciplinary action for his actions. According to the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Code of Conduct, any physical confrontation between players is strictly prohibited.

If the incident is deemed intentional or careless, the match referee could classify it as a Level 2 offense, which could result in penalties such as points being deducted from Kohli’s disciplinary record or even a ban from the next match.

This controversy remains under scrutiny, and the cricket world is closely watching the outcome.