- Veteran tried to intimidate teenager in Boxing Day test
- The Australian responded by smashing a half-century on debut
Indian cricket fans have turned against Virat Kohli after the Indian superstar tried to intimidate Australian youngster Sam Konstas on the first day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Kohli, 36, hit the debutant with his right shoulder between overs, and a brave Konstas exchanged some angry words with the veteran before Usman Khawaja calmed the situation in the crease.
Konstas completely rocked India, plundering a half-century off just 52 balls after some incredible ramp shots and audacious knocks as he routed the world-class bowling attack in what was one of the best debut innings by an Australian in memory. recent.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) subsequently fined Kohli 20 per cent of his match fee, rather than issuing a suspension, and docked the former captain a demerit point.
A suspension would have seen Kohli miss the fifth Test in Sydney.
Many cricket fans were incredulous at the result and, surprisingly, many of them come from India, where Kohli is a revered figure.
Indian cricket fans have turned against Virat Kohli after the Indian superstar tried to intimidate Australian youngster Sam Konstas on the first day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
This fan termed Kohli’s aggressive behavior as “unacceptable behavior” and stressed that he “needs to maintain decorum on the field.”
Another cricket supporter posted in a Times of India story that Kohli has “0 (zero) respect.”
Kohli, 36, hit the debutant with his right shoulder between overs, and Konstas exchanged 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 of Control for Cricket in India.
Instead of the expected complaints about how the Australian media is covering the scandal, many fans from the subcontinent expressed their anger in the comments section via The times of India about a story about Kohli’s questionable behavior.
The opinions expressed in the comments section were strongly against the former national captain.
“That was really poor, you could see his intention,” said one fan.
A second added: “Unacceptable behaviour, Kohli needs to maintain decorum on the field.”
A third chimed in with: “Virat has 0 (zero) respect.”
After being fired for 60 years, Konstas said the incident took him by surprise.
“I think the emotions affected us both. I didn’t fully realize, I was putting on the gloves and then (came) a little load on my shoulder. It happens, it’s cricket,” he told the Seven Network.
Immediately after contact, Konstas turned around in surprise and Kohli reacted, as if to suggest it was the Australian’s fault.
Indian great Ravi Shastri, who used to be Kohli’s coach, was unimpressed by the tense scenes.
“That’s totally unnecessary, we don’t want to see that,” Shastri told Fox Sports.
“Virat is a veteran player, he has been captain… He will have his own explanations about it, but it is something you don’t want to see.”
Australian cricket great Ricky Ponting felt that Konstas had “definitely got a bit angry” and “made them nervous” as the batting dynamo helped his team dominate the first session.
Pat Cummins’ men will resume the second day on 6/311, with Steve Smith unbeaten on 68 off 111 balls.