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NEW DELHI: Tempers flared in the middle as Virat Kohli shoulder-bumped Sam Konstas in the first session of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Debutant Konstas gave the Aussies a flying start after Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bat with the series locked at 1-1.
Konstas threw Jasprit Bumrah off track as the India pace spearhead conceded 20 runs off his first 5 overs, which two were maidens.
With Australia at 44/0 after 10 overs, there was a heated exchange between Kohli and Konstas.
Kohli barged into Konstas’ shoulder while passing by. Konstas didn’t like it one bit and had something to say to Kohli and then there were some words exchanged even as Usman Khawaja had his hand around Kohli’s shoulder in a friendly gesture.
The situation was about to get out of hand till the umpires came in to calm things down.
While commentating for Channel Seven, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting slammed Kohli for his behavior.
“Virat walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever,” Ponting said on Channel Seven.
“I have no doubt that the umpires and the referee will have a good look at that. Fielders should be nowhere near the batsman at that stage. Every fieldsman on the ground knows where the batsmen will congregate and get together.
“It looked to me that Konstas looked up really late, wouldn’t even know anyone is in front of him. That man on-screen there (Kohli) might have a few questions to answer.”
Konstas was on 27 when the confrontation with Kohli happened and the debutant went on to hit a half-century off just 52 balls to wrest the initiative.
At 19 years and 85 days, Konstas became the second youngest Aussie to score a half-century for Australia in Test cricket.
Konstas’ debut knock was brought to an end by Ravindra Jadeja who trapped him plumb before the wicket.
Konstas scored 60 runs off 65 balls with 2 sixes and 6 fours in his knock.
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