India's Virat Kohli, right, talks to Australia's Sam Konstas, second left, as Australia's Usman Khawaja, looks on during play on the first day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake India's Virat Kohli, right, talks to Australia's Sam Konstas, second left, as Australia's Usman Khawaja, looks on during play on the first day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake Sam Konstas put on a stunning show on his Test debut as he smashed a 52-ball half-century to help Australia take charge in the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against India at a sold out Melbourne Cricket Ground. (Day 1 Blog | Full Coverage | More Cricket News)
While Konstas' batting oozed confidence, he was also ready to fire verbal volleys when needed. The 19-year-old had a heated confrontation with former India captain Virat Kohli early on in the match.
During the change of ends after the 10th over of the day, Kohli's shoulder brushed past Konstas' triggering a confrontation between the debutant and the veteran. The duo exchanged a few words before Konstas' opening partner Usman Khawaja intervened to cool down things.
"Have a look where Virat walks. Virat's walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever."- Ricky Ponting #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/zm4rjG4X9A
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 26, 2024Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on air observed that it was Kohli who instigated the confrontation.
The team led by Ammad Butt, finally secured their first victory with a 2-1 win over Japan and then delivered a decisive 5-1 win against China, to enter the semi-finals. Their final pool match ended in a narrow 2-1 loss to India.
"Have a look at where Virat walks," Ponting said on Channel 7 while watching the replay of the incident. "Virat's walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind, whatsoever."
Former international umpire Simon Taufel said that Kohli's change of line while walking to get in the way of Konstas might put the Indian in trouble.
Sam Konstas Makes Rousing Debut; Toys With Indian Bowlers To Raise Stroke-filled Fiftyigc slot"This long shot that's been provided by the director is really interesting because it shows Virat Kohli actually changing his line to get into the personal space of Sam Konstas.
"Now, there's a clause within the ICC Code of Conduct that talks about inappropriate physical contact and that's the clause that the umpires and the referee will be looking at, at close of play today to see whether or not Virat's actions fall into that category and my suggestion would be that they'll probably - looking at that seriously - more than likely do something about that now."
Konstas, who hit a stunning 62 in his debut Test outing, said that incidents like this happen in cricket.
"I think the emotions got to both of us," Konstas told Channel 7 in the second session. "I didn't quite realise, I was doing my gloves, then a little shoulder charge, but it happens in cricket."
Konstas unleashed his full array of shots, including scoops and reverse rampsph dream, to put India under pressure in the fourth Test. The half-century from the 19-year-old made him the youngest Australian to hit a Test fifty in more than 70 years.
