Virat Kohli may face punishment for the altercation if present in violation of the Worldwide Cricket Council’s code of conduct after intentionally shouldering 19-year-old Check debutant Sam Konstas on the opening day of the Boxing Day Check on the Melbourne Cricket Floor (MCG).
Sam Konstas supplied a spectacle on the MCG within the first session, hitting his maiden half-century with ramp photographs and charging sixes. He lap-scooped, reverse-lapped Bumrah, he backed away to smash Mohammad Siraj en path to a thrill-a-ball half century. He was ultimately dismissed LBW by Ravindra Jadeja for a memorable 65-ball 60.
After the tenth over of the match, Virat Kohli, a former captain, minimize throughout from his preliminary place on the leg facet of play, with the ball in his hand, walked beside the pitch the place Sam Konstas was returning again from the opposite finish. And the shoulder barge occurred. Konstas and Kohli would change phrases, earlier than Usman Khawaja got here in with a smile and put a hand over Kohli’s shoulders.
Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas exchanged a heated second on the MCG. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/QL13nZ9IGI
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2024
Who mentioned what?
Former Australia opener and coach Justin Langer mentioned the contact was a poor search for the sport.
“We don’t like seeing that in any cricket,” Langer mentioned throughout commentary for the Seven Community.
“There’ll be lots mentioned about this.”
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting mentioned Kohli may very well be in some bother for the contact.
“I’ve little doubt that the umpires and the referee may have a superb take a look at that. We’ve seen a couple of angles. [Fielders] needs to be nowhere close to the batsman at that stage,” he mentioned on the Seven Community.
“Each fieldsman is aware of the place the batsmen will congregate and get collectively. It seemed to me that Konstas seemed up late; he wouldn’t have recognized anybody is in entrance of him.
Match referee Andy Pycroft is for certain to take a look at the incident.
The ICC’s Code of Conduct states that “any type of inappropriate bodily contact is prohibited in cricket. With out limitation, gamers will breach this regulation in the event that they intentionally, recklessly and/or negligently stroll or run into or shoulder one other participant or umpire”.
“It exhibits Virat Kohli truly altering his line to get into the non-public area of Sam Konstas,” Simon Taufel, the five-time umpire of the 12 months, mentioned on the Seven Community.
“There’s a clause with the ICC code of conduct that talks about inappropriate bodily contact. That’s the clause that the umpires and the referee will probably be wanting on the shut of play at present. To see whether or not or not Virat’s actions went into that class.
“My suggestion could be they’ll be that significantly and sure do one thing about that now.”
Former England captain Michael Vaughan additionally mentioned Kohli was responsible for the collision, highlighting the incident appeared to point out India had been rattled.
“Virat Kohli is such an skilled professional, being wound up by a 19 [year old],” he instructed Fox Cricket.
“It’s Virat that walks into Sam.”
Kerry O’Keeffe agreed with Vaughan.
“Kohli has constructed his entire profession on conceitedness. All of a sudden he recognized that in a debutant, and he appeared to resent it. “I believe he’s in bother.”
Australian ladies’s captain Alyssa Healy mentioned that Kohli’s actions weren’t in the most effective pursuits of his facet.
“(It’s) most likely extra disappointing than anything that an skilled participant, considered one of your greatest gamers within the nation, is kind of visibly wanting on the wider image and made a beeline for the youngest participant on the opposition,” Healy defined.
“It doesn’t actually set the best tone to your facet, but when that’s a technique the Indian staff needs to method it, so be it.
“It didn’t rattle him one bit.”
If the ICC don’t give Virat a vacation along with his household in Sydney then we’d as properly pack up our bat and ball and go house. Modified his line and confirmed the world the child has rattled him & his staff. Such a disgrace as the child completely idolizes Kohli.
“ By no means meet your hero ” 😢— Darren Berry (@ChuckBerry1969) December 26, 2024
Darren Berry, former Victoria cricket captain wrote on X: “If the ICC don’t give Virat a vacation along with his household in Sydney then we’d as properly pack up our bat and ball and go house. Modified his line and confirmed the world the child has rattled him & his staff. Such a disgrace as the child completely idolizes Kohli. By no means meet your hero.”
Why must you purchase our Subscription?
You need to be the neatest within the room.
You need entry to our award-winning journalism.
You don’t need to be misled and misinformed.
Select your subscription bundle
