The Christmas spirit did nothing to improve Virat Kohli’s temper.
Days after the Indian superstar made exceptional remarks to the local media upon his arrival in Melbourne, Kohli had an on-field skirmish with Australian debutant Sam Constas at the start of the Boxing Day Test.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting had no doubt that Kohli initiated the contact, with the Indian veteran and Australian teenager bumping shoulders after the 10th over.
“Look at the way Virat walked. Virat walked a whole pitch to the right and instigated that confrontation – there’s no doubt in my mind,” Ponting said on the Seven Network.
“I have no doubt that the referee and referee will take a good look at it.”
Constas had clearly excited the tourists during his amazing Test debut. Paceman Mohammed Siraj gave the teenager a bite just before he and Kohli clashed shoulders.
Immediately after the contact, Constas turned around in surprise and Kohli reacted as if it was the Australian’s fault. Usman Khawaja, who also served as the opening pitcher, acted as a spectator amused by Constas’ batting fireworks, intervened and put his arm around Kohli, and Kohli played the role of peacemaker.
Photo: James Ross/AAP
Constas reacted to the incident in the best possible way and belted the first ball of Jasprit Bumrah’s fourth over of the next over on his way to 60.
Constas said after he was fired that he was surprised by the incident.
“I think that feeling got through to both of us. I didn’t notice it at all, but I was doing a little bit of a shoulder charge after I put on the gloves. It happens, it’s cricket,” he told the Seven Network. told.
Referee Michael Gough also exchanged words with Kohli and Constance.
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The 19-year-old showed nerves of steel by attacking Bumrah in his debut match. The world No. 1 bowler took 21 wickets in the first three Tests, repeatedly smashing Australia’s top order.
Australia went into lunch at 1-112 with Usman Khawaja (38) and Marnus Labuschagne (12) unbeaten, but Bumrah failed to take a wicket in the first session.
Constas eventually hit 60 off 65 balls 30 minutes before lunch with star spinner Ravindra Jadeja, but not before putting together an innings that would go down in Australian cricket legend.
“(Constace) has definitely improved a little bit,” Ponting said. “Yes, he embarrassed them. Yes, he’s standing up. Yes, there’s some frustration there.”
Kohli traveled to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test but got off to a bad start, taking a local TV reporter on assignment while filming his family at the airport.
Apart from his unbeaten hundred in the first Test, Kohli has not scored more than 11 runs.
With the Border-Gavaskar series teetering on the brink of a win, India will need to get a big innings from their captive star at the MCG.
