Melbourne [Australia], December 26: The opening day of the Boxing Day Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground saw a surge of excitement among cricket fans, following a heated altercation between Indian cricketer Virat Kohli and Australian debutant Sam Konstas. The incident added an unexpected moment of drama to the day’s play.
A fan shared their perspective with ANI, saying, “I don’t think there is any controversy. It’s just part of the game. If you ask Virat Kohli off the field, he would probably respect the way Sam Konstas played.”
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to review the incident between Kohli and Konstas, as reported by cricket.com.au. The altercation occurred when both players came into close contact, exchanging words before being separated. Australia’s opener Usman Khawaja stepped in to diffuse the tension, placing his arm around Kohli, while umpire Michael Gough also intervened as a peacemaker. Match referee Andy Pycroft is expected to look into the matter.
Later, during the second session, Konstas spoke with Channel 7, explaining that he didn’t initially realize the intensity of the encounter. He mentioned he was wearing his gloves and had a slight shoulder charge, adding, “It happens in cricket.”