Australia vs India, Boxing Day Test: Why Virat Kohli might not be proud of his altercation with fanboy Sam Konstas

When Virat Kohli watches the replays of the first session of the Boxing Day Test, he is likely to feel a twinge of regret. He wouldn’t be proud of the man who shoulder tackled a 19-year-old batsman in his first Test for Australia. That man was Kohli himself. In front of nearly 90,000 spectators at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, he made his way to becoming the youngest player on the field.

The On-field altercation instigated by KohliHe was unworthy of a player of his stature. It was inappropriate for the occasion as thousands of passionate fans had come to witness a great contest between bat and ball.

AUS vs IND, 4th Test Day 1: Report | Highlights

Virat Kohli has never shied away from confrontation. He thrives on competition and verbal duels often fuel him. The Australians learned this the hard way.
His first two tours Down Under embodied his fighting spirit. Kohli was taunted by Australian players as a “spoiled brat” and subjected to relentless sledging in 2014, but he didn’t back down. Instead, he channeled the hostility into some of his best performances, scoring four centuries in the series.

Also read: “I think Virat Kohli ran into me by chance,” says Sam Konstas

“I like playing against Australia because it is very difficult for them to stay calm,” Kohli had said at the time. “I don’t mind a fight on the field. It really excites me and brings out the best in me.”

Even then, Kohli made it clear that he had limits. When Mitchell Johnson hit him with a throw during that series, he snapped and said: “I told him it wasn’t on and that next time he should try to hit the stumps, not my body.”

Kohli didn’t hesitate to give the middle finger to an allegedly abusive group of spectators in Sydney in 2012 – a moment later he regretted it..

He never shied away from being the bad guy or speaking his mind. He didn’t think twice before denouncing unfair play in his inimitable style. When Steve Smith asked the dressing room for help on a review call in 2017, Kohli stopped him short of calling him a fraud. But two years later, Kohli defended Smith as he was booed by the England crowd over the Sandpaper Gate scandal.

Kohli always wore his heart on his sleeve, engaged in verbal duels and celebrated his personal milestones and the achievements of his teammates with unparalleled fervor.

“I don’t play for people, perceptions or reputations. “I only play so that the team wins,” Kohli had famously said in 2018.

But his recent clash with Australia’s 19-year-old debutant Sam Konstas on Boxing Day has left a bad taste in his mouth and raised questions about whether he has temporarily crossed the line he has so adeptly trod throughout his career.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE MCG

Teenage opener Sam Konstas, the youngest ever Australian opener, put on a show on Boxing Day. He took on Jasprit Bumrah, the best fast bowler in the world, and tried to take him backwards to the edge of the pitch. The audacity with which he attempted to transfer the pressure to Australia’s nemesis was a sight to behold.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj did his best to unsettle the young opener by engaging in a sledging duel to break Konstas’ rhythm – a tactic that was entirely within the rules of the game.

During a drinks break after the 10th over of Australia’s innings, as Konstas and Usman Khawaja swapped sides, Kohli appeared to shoulder the teenager, who was adjusting his gloves with his head bowed. It appeared to be intentional physical contact, which is punishable under the laws of cricket as the sport is not a contact game.

KOHLI escapes severe punishment

Yes, Virat Kohli escaped severe punishment. There was much speculation that he might be banned for the next Test match in Sydney, but the ICC fined him and gave him a demerit point after he accepted the sanctions suggested by match referee Andy Pycroft.

Yet Kohli knew he was letting himself down in front of the thousands who adored him. Ironically, the man he shouldered – Konstas – is also one of his biggest fans.
Even Ravi Shastri, who worked closely with Kohli and understood him better than most, could not defend MCG’s failure.

“The stature that Virat has in the game; He has been captain of the team for many years and things happen in the heat of battle. But when I think about it, I would say it was unnecessary. There is a limit and one should not cross that limit,” Shastri said. which further increases the criticism of Kohli’s act.

It seems that Kohli has crossed “that line” and in all likelihood he is already regretting his actions.