NEW DELHI: Tempers flared within the center as Virat Kohli shoulder-bumped Sam Konstas within the first session of the Boxing Day Test on the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Debutant Konstas gave the Aussies a flying begin after Pat Cummins received the toss and opted to bat with the collection locked at 1-1.
Konstas threw Jasprit Bumrah off monitor because the India tempo spearhead conceded 20 runs off his first 5 overs, of which two have been maidens.
With Australia at 44/0 after 10 overs, there was a heated change between Kohli and Konstas.
Kohli barged into Konstas’ shoulder whereas passing by. Konstas did not prefer it one bit and had one thing to say to Kohli after which there have been some phrases exchanged whilst Usman Khawaja had his hand round Kohli’s shoulder in a pleasant gesture.
The scenario was about to get out of hand till the umpires got here in to calm issues down.
While commenting for Channel Seven, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting slammed Kohli for his behaviour.
“Virat walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatever,” Ponting stated 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 seemed to me that Konstas seemed up actually late, would not even know anybody is in entrance of him. That man on-display screen there (Kohli) may need a couple of inquiries to reply.”
Konstas was on 27 when the confrontation with Kohli occurred and the debutant went on to hit a half-century off simply 52 balls to wrest the initiative.
At 19 years and 85 days, Konstas turned the second youngest Aussie to attain a half-century for Australia in Test cricket.
Konstas’ debut knock was dropped at an finish by Ravindra Jadeja who trapped him plumb earlier than the wicket.
Konstas scored 60 runs off 65 balls with 2 sixes and 6 fours in his knock.
