- Veteran tried to bully teenager in Boxing Day Test
- Aussie responded by blasting half century on debut
Indian cricket fans have turned on Virat Kohli after the Indian superstar looked to bully Aussie young gun Sam Konstas on day one of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Kohli, 36, slammed his right shoulder into the debutant in between overs, with a fearless Konstas exchanging some angry words with the veteran before Usman Khawaja calmed the situation at the crease.
Konstas completely rattled India, plundering a half-century from just 52 balls following some amazing ramp shots and bold striking as he thrashed the world-class bowling attack in what was one of the best debut innings from an Aussie in recent memory.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) later fined Kohli 20 per cent of his match fee – rather than issuing a suspension – as well as docking the former captain one demerit point.
A suspension would have seen Kohli miss the fifth Test in Sydney.
Many cricket supporters were in disbelief at the outcome – and surprisingly, many of them hail from India, where Kohli is a revered figure.
Indian cricket fans have turned on Virat Kohli after the Indian superstar looked to intimidate Aussie young gun Sam Konstas on day one of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne
This supporter labelled Kohli’s aggressive conduct ‘unacceptable behaviour’ and stressed he ‘needs to maintain decorum on the field’
Another cricket supporter posted in a Times of India story that Kohli has ‘0 (zero) respect’
Kohli, 36, slammed his right shoulder into the debutant in between overs, with Konstas exchanging some angry words with the veteran before Usman Khawaja calmed the situation down at the crease (pictured)
Some cricket fans believe Virat Kohli is untouchable given his standing in the game and the power of the Board for Control of Cricket in India
Instead of the expected complaints about how the scandal is being covered by the Australian media, many fans on the subcontinent voiced their anger in the comments section via The Times of India on a story surrounding Kohli’s questionable conduct.
The opinions voiced in the comments section were strongly against the former national skipper.
‘That was really poor, you could see his intention,’ said one fan.
A second added: ‘Unacceptable behaviour, Kohli needs to maintain decorum on the field.
A third weighed in with: ‘Virat has 0 (zero) respect.’
After he was dismissed for 60, Konstas said the incident caught him by surprise.
‘I think the emotions got to both of us. I didn’t quite realise, I was doing my gloves and then [came] a little shoulder charge. It happens, it’s cricket,’ he told the Seven Network.
Immediately after the contact, Konstas turned in surprise and Kohli reacted, as if to suggest it was the Australian’s fault.
Indian great Ravi Shastri, who used to be Kohli’s coach, was unimpressed by the tense scenes.
‘That’s totally unnecessary, we don’t want to see that,’ Shastri told Fox Sports.
‘Virat’s a senior player, he’s been captain…he’ll have his own explanations with regards to that, but it’s one thing you don’t want to see.’
Australian cricket great Ricky Ponting felt Konstas had ‘definitely gotten up their noses a little bit’ and ‘flustered them’ as the batting dynamo helped his team dominate the first session.
Pat Cummins’ men will resume day two on 6/311, with Steve Smith unbeaten on 68 from 111 balls.
