One of the most blistering starts to a Test career has clearly rattled India in Melbourne, with Virat Kohli appearing to run into Australian debutant Sam Konstas deliberately.
Konstas made an outrageous start to his Test career, playing reverse ramp shots over the boundary rope in the face of an Indian bowling attack that has caused issues to Australia’s top order.
After the 19-year-old NSW batter belted Jasprit Bumarah and Mohammad Siraj around the Melbourne Cricket Ground, former India captain Virat Kohli took matters into his own hands.
As the players changed ends at the conclusion of the 10th over, Kohli picked up the cricket ball and appeared to walk directly to Konstas who was heading toward batting partner Usman Khawaja.
Kohli, who was walking between his fielding positions in the slips, looked to have moved into Konstas’s line to shoulder the teenager.
The Australian did not take kindly to the contact, immediately turning around to the Indian star and having words with him.
The umpires and Khawaja also came to calm the situation immediately.
Former Australia opener and coach Justin Langer said the contact was a poor look for the game.
“We don’t like seeing that in any cricket,” Langer said during commentary for the Seven Network.
“There’ll be plenty said about this.”
Usman Khawaja (centre) tried to calm things down after Kohli and Konstas came together. (Getty Images: Daniel Pockett/Cricket Australia)
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said Kohli could be in some trouble for the contact.
“I have no doubt that the umpires and the referee will have a good look at that. We’ve seen a few angles. [Fielders] should be nowhere near the batsman at that stage,” he said on the Seven Network.
“Every fieldsman knows where the batsmen will congregate and get together. It looked to me that Konstas looked up late; he wouldn’t have known anyone is in front of him.
“[Kohli] might have a few questions to answer.”
Five-time umpire of the year Simon Taufel, also commentating on the Seven Network, said a clause in the ICC code of conduct against this action and officials may look to punish Kohli.
“It shows Virat Kohli actually changing his line to get into the personal space of Sam Konstas,” Taufel said.
“There’s a clause with the ICC code of conduct that talks about inappropriate physical contact. That’s the clause that the umpires and the referee will be looking at the close of play today. To see whether or not Virat’s actions went into that category.
“My suggestion would be they’ll be looking at that seriously and likely do something about that now.”
The ICC code of conduct article 2.12 states:
Any form of inappropriate physical contact is prohibited in cricket. Without limitation, Players will breach this regulation if they deliberately, recklessly and/or negligently walk or run into or shoulder another Player or Umpire. When assessing the seriousness of the breach, the following factors (without limitation) shall be taken into account: (i) the context of the particular situation, including, without limitation, whether the contact was deliberate (i.e. intentional), reckless, negligent, and/or avoidable; (ii) the force of the contact; (iii) any resulting injury to the person with whom contact was made; and (iv) the person with whom contact was made.
Siraj and Australian Travis Head were fined 20 per cent of their match fees following an incident during the second Test in Adelaide, when the pair exchanged heated words after Head was bowled by the Indian for 140.
Former England Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan also said Kohli was to blame for the collision, highlighting the incident seemed to show India had been rattled.
“Virat Kohli is such an experienced pro, being wound up by a 19 [year old],” he told Fox Cricket.
“It’s Virat that walks into Sam.”
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