 "IND vs AUS: Will Virat Kohli be sanctioned after heated altercation with Sam Konstas during Boxing Day Test?")
Virat Kohli and debutant Sam Konstas were involved in a heated clash during the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India in Melbourne on Thursday. With Konstas taking the aggressive approach against Indian bowlers, Kohli decided distract the teenager and halt his momentum by giving Konstas a shoulder push.
The incident, which happened as players were crossing over following the 10th over, led to the on-field umpires getting involved and eventually settle things down. Konstas was walking over to Usman Khawaja at the other end after taking a single off the last ball of Mohammed Siraj’s over.
Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas exchanged a heated moment on the MCG. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/QL13nZ9IGI
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2024
Kohli, who seemed to give Konstas a death stare, deliberately did a shoulder bump on Konstas, which eventually led to a verbal altercation between the two. Later, Usman Khawaja and the umpires intervened to settle things down between the two. Konstas later said that emotions got the better of Kohli and himself. “I think the emotions got to both of us,” he told Channel 7. “I didn’t quite realise, I was doing my gloves, then a little shoulder charge, but it happens in cricket,” he added.
Michael Vaughan, Ricky Ponting react to Kohli-Konstas altercation
Michael Vaughan felt that Konstas did nothing wrong and put the blame on Kohli. “He’s completely acted wrong," the former England cricketer told Fox Sports. “I don’t know why a senior pro who’s played for so long – he’s a King – why’s he’s been rattled by a 19-year-old. Sam Konstas did absolutely nothing wrong there. Virat veered towards him. You can’t do that, you’re just not allowed to do that," explained Vaughan.
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View AllFormer Australia captain Ricky Ponting also blamed Kohli. “Have a look where Virat walks. Virat has walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever,” Ponting said while on commentary on Channel 7.
Will either player be punished, and what does the law say?
Should match referee Andy Pycroft declare that either Kohli or Konstas has committed a Level Two offence, then that player will receive three or four demerit points. According to Law 2.12, inappropriate physical contact is prohibited in cricket. “Any form of inappropriate physical contact is prohibited in cricket,” states the law.
Should either player receive four demerit points, then that player could receive a match ban, which would rule him out of the fifth Test in Sydney that starts from 3 January. Should it be deemed as a Level One offence, then the player would receive a lesser penalty, that of a match fee fine.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series is level 1-1 after three Tests. At the time of writing this report, Australia were 223/2 with Marnus Labuschagne (67*) and Steve Smith (33*) unbeaten.
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