- Veteran tried to bully teenager during Boxing Day Test
- Aussie responded by smashing a half-century on debut
Indian cricket fans have turned to Virat Kohli after the Indian superstar tried to bully Australian youngster Sam Konstas on the first day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Kohli, 36, slammed his right shoulder into the debutant between overs, with a fearless Konstas exchanging some angry words with the veteran before Usman Khawaja calmed the situation at the point of attack.
Konstas completely threw India into disarray, plundering just 52 balls for a half-century after some astonishing ramp shots and audacious strokes as he thrashed the world-class bowling attack in what was one of the best debut innings by an Australian in recent memory.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) later fined Kohli 20 percent of his match fee – instead of imposing a ban – and imposed one demerit point on the former captain.
Kohli would have missed the fifth Test in Sydney due to suspension.
Many cricket supporters were in disbelief at the outcome – and surprisingly many of them are from India, where Kohli is a respected figure.
Indian cricket fans have turned against Virat Kohli after the Indian superstar tried to intimidate Australian youngster Sam Konstas on day one of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne
This supporter branded Kohli’s aggressive behavior as ‘unacceptable behaviour’ and stressed that he must ‘maintain decorum on the field’.
Another cricket supporter wrote in a Times of India story that Kohli has ‘0 (zero) respect’
Kohli, 36, slammed his right shoulder into the debutant between overs, with Konstas exchanging some angry words with the veteran before Usman Khawaja calmed the situation at the crease (pictured)
Some cricket fans believe that Virat Kohli is untouchable given his position in the game and the power of the Board for Control of Cricket in India.
Instead of the expected complaints about the way the scandal is being covered by the Australian media, many fans on the subcontinent expressed their anger in the comments section via The times of India about a story surrounding Kohli’s questionable behavior.
Opinions in the comments section were strongly against the former national skipper.
“That was really bad, you could see his intent,” said one fan.
A second added: ‘Unacceptable behaviour, Kohli must maintain decorum on the field.
A third weighed in: ‘Virat has 0 (zero) respect.’
After being fired for 60 years, Konstas said the incident took him by surprise.
‘I think the emotions got to both of us. I didn’t quite realize it, I put my gloves on and then [came] a small shoulder charge. It happens, it’s cricket,” he told the Seven Network.
Immediately after contact, Konstas turned around in surprise and Kohli responded, as if to suggest it was the Australian’s fault.
Indian great Ravi Shastri, who was Kohli’s coach, was unimpressed by the tense scenes.
“That is completely unnecessary, we don’t want to see that,” Shastri told Fox Sports.
“Virat is a senior player, he has been captain… he will have his own explanations about that, but that is something you don’t want to see.”
Australian cricket great Ricky Ponting felt Konstas had ‘certainly turned up his nose a bit’ and ‘confused them’ as the batting dynamo helped his team dominate the first session.
Pat Cummins’ men resume day two at 6/311, with Steve Smith unbeaten on 68 from 111 balls.