Virat Kohli Sam Konstas Physical Incident: Veteran Indian Cricket Team batter Virat Kohli and 19-year-old Australian debutant Sam Konstas had a physical altercation on the field today. The question now remains: what will be the consequences of the incident?
Today is Day One of the fourth Australia vs India Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. On one of the most exciting days of this series, it was the Aussies who ultimately had a better day, ending the day at 311/6.
Australia won the toss and decided to bat first. Ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah tested Konstas in the first over, so, to alleviate the pressure, the debutant attempted to play a rowdy ramp shot off Bumrah’s delivery in the third over.
Check Out: Will Virat Kohli get banned for one Test match?
In the seventh over, with the Kangaroos on 12 runs and Konstas on five, the youngster tried a ramp shot on Bumrah once again. This time the ball connected and went for a four. Then, in one of the most audacious moments in this series, he attempted a similar shot on the next delivery, which connected again, and this time went for a six. In the same over, he hit his third ramp shot, this time getting another four.
This woke up not only the Australian crowd but Usman Khawaja as well on the other end, who started attacking as well. The two batters especially went after Mohammed Siraj from this point, who was still bowling a bit wayward.
Australia vs India: Virat Kohli Sam Konstas Physical Incident
The Kohli-Konstas incident happened at the end of the 10th over as the score was 44/0. As the players were changing sides, Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas bumped shoulder to shoulder. The two immediately turned around and started mouthing off at each other.
When Sam tried leaving the confrontation, Kohli followed him a few steps as things started heating up. But then, cooler minds arrived at the situation, especially Khawaja, who grabbed his teammate by the arm before keeping a hand on Virat’s shoulder, diffusing the situation.
By this time, even the umpire arrived at the scene and said something to both men, probably telling them to calm down. This put an end to this incident.
The question is, why did this happen? Was this a genuine accident, or did one of the players do this to make a statement? Did young Konstas want to pick a fight with the biggest prisoner in the yard, or did Kohli want to humble the debutant who was looking in good touch?
Ricky Ponting was commentating at the time for Channel Seven. The former Australian captain said that the incident was entirely Virat Kohli’s doing. He said on the live broadcast,
“Virat’s walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that. It’s Kohli that goes off the line, and he walks into Sam.”
And while the commentator’s account should be believed, the Australian commentators, especially Ponting, have been known to skew things in favour of the Kangaroos while on call.
So, will there be some punishment for anyone involved? Well, ICC’s Code of Conduct states that any form of inappropriate physical contact is prohibited. For this, either Kohli or Konstas could face massive consequences, like getting demerit points. If they get four, they will not be able to play in the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney.
More likely, the offender will get away with a slap on the wrist in the form of a match fee deduction.
As for the things that matter, that being cricket, Australia had a fine outing today, ending the day at 311/6 with Steve Smith and captain Pat Cummins on strike. Konstas, Smith, Usman Khawaja, and Marnus Labuschagne, all four top-four Australian batters, scored 50s today as the home side takes a slight lead in this fourth India vs Australia Test.
Check Out: Virat Kohli Sam Konstas Physical Incident
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