Virat Kohli punishes police for Sam Konstas clash as fans denounce brutal ‘pathetic’ details

Fans have hit out at cricket officials over the punishment given to veteran Indian batsman Virat Kohli, who escaped a ban Shoulder injury against Sam Konstas on Boxing Day. Teen sensation Konstas has stunned the cricket world on the opening day of the fourth Test with an audacious half-century on Test debut, but it was the encounter with Kohli that grabbed most of the headlines.

On Thursday evening, Kohli accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft, which included a fine of 20% of his match fee and the loss of one demerit point on his tally. It is the same punishment that Indian teammate Mohammed Siraj received for giving an ugly send-off to Travis Head in the second Test in Adelaide.

But many felt that Kohli’s indiscretion was much worse than Siraj’s and that he should be banned for at least one match. That would have ruled the 36-year-old out of the fifth and final Test in Sydney, but Kohli will play freely after overturning a sanction that many felt was too lenient.

The ICC confirmed the development after a dramatic opening day at the MCG on Boxing Day. “No formal hearing was required as Kohli accepted the sanctions suggested by referee Andy Pycroft. Field umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Shawn Craig settled the charge,” the ICC said.

To his credit, Konstas ignored the incident and said that whatever happens in the middle stays there. But cricket greats Ricky Ponting and Michael Vaughan also criticized Kohli, who clearly deviated from his course and went out of his way to make contact with the 19-year-old Australian star.

Virat Kohli criticized the Sam Konsta incident

Ponting criticized Kohli’s actions on Channel 7 and said: “Look where Virat is going. Virat went a whole pitch to the right and started this confrontation. There is no doubt in my mind at all.” Vaughan said of Fox Cricket’s coverage: “You can clearly see that Virat is to blame, he went straight to Sam.”

“Virat Kohli is a seasoned professional in this game and he just got rattled by a 19-year-old for playing the way he did… He misbehaved completely.” Why was a seasoned pro on his Debut upset by a 19-year-old? You can’t do that, I think he’s in trouble.

Cricket fans are wondering how Virat Kohli escaped a ban

Even Ravi Shastri, the great Indian player and Kohli’s former national coach, was unimpressed by the veteran’s action and many fans wondered how Kohli escaped the ban. “It’s completely unnecessary, we don’t want to see that,” Shastri told Fox Cricket. “Virat is an experienced player, he was captain… he will have his own explanations on that but that is one thing you don’t want to see.”

The incident overshadowed a thrilling opening day of the fourth Test at the MCG, which saw Konstas burst onto the world stage with a quick-scoring 60 (from 65 balls). The 19-year-old boldly targeted Indian spearman Jasprit Bumrah with a series of scoops and reverse paddle shots, hitting him for 18 from a very successful over as Bumrah scored a career-best 34 runs in a single over in Test cricket.

Openers Usman Khawaja (57), Marnus Labuschagne (72) and Steve Smith (68 not out) all scored half-centuries to put the Australians in a commanding position. But a mediocre collapse from 3-9 in the final session saw the home side go from 2-237 to 5-246 before Alex Carey (31) worked with Smith to stabilize the game.

Carey was eventually removed by Akash Deep, although Bumrah was once again the pick of the Indian bowlers after finishing the first day with figures of 3-75. Smith and captain Pat Cummins (eight not out) will continue the second day with Australia on 6-311. The Border-Gavaskar series stands at 1-1 and India will retain the trophy if they avoid defeat in the fifth and final Test at the MCG or in Sydney.