Indian superstar Virat Kohli has tried to bully Australian sensation Sam Konstas by shoulder-charging him as the 19-year-old was racing to an incredible half century on debut at the Boxing Day Test.
The former skipper slammed his right shoulder into the batter in between overs, with Konstas exchanging some angry words with him before his teammate Usman Khawaja got between the pair to settle the situation down.
Konstas was in the process of leaving India completely rattled as he stormed to 50 runs from just 52 balls courtesy of some amazing ramp shots and bold striking as he thrashed the attack to and over the boundary in one of the best debut innings from an Aussie in memory.
Former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting was scathing of Kohli in commentary on Channel Seven.
‘No doubt the umpires and the referee will have a good look at that,’ Ponting said.
‘I agree, they [the fielders] should be nowhere near the batsman at that stage. Every fieldsman knows where the batsmen will congregate and get together.
Pictured: The moment Virat Kohli slams his shoulder into Sam Konstas as the 19-year-old raced to a stunning 60 on debut in the Boxing Day Test
Konstas (left) exchanged angry words with Kohli (second from right) after the clash
The teenager’s batting partner Usman Khawaja (right) had to get between the rivals to calm the situation – before Konstas returned to smashing the Indian attack
‘It looked to me that Konstas looked up really late, probably wouldn’t know anyone is in front of him. That man [Kohli’ might have a few questions to answer.
‘When you’re out there batting the batsman owns the wicket. The crease is his. Especially between overs like that.
‘There’s no need for fielders or bowlers to be anywhere near the batsman in a situation like that.’
‘Kohli has walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation.’
His fellow Aussie great and Seven commentator Justin Langer was also shocked by the ugly moment.
‘No good. We don’t like seeing that in cricket. Plenty will be said about this,’ he added.
Ex-Test umpire Simon Taufel – who was also on Seven’s broadcast – joined the condemnation.
‘This is why both umpires tend to do a pitch handover at [the end of] every over. We don’t want to see any physical contact during the game. It tends to get out of control,’ he explained.
‘You saw the umpires on-screen come together, basically use their presence in the players’ space to settle things down. To nip things in the bud, as it were – try and tone the match down. A lot of energy. A lot of adrenaline flowing.’
The shocking tactic from the visiting star didn’t produce the desired result as Konstas replied by striking another boundary.
‘Whatever happens on the field, stays on the field,’ Konstas told Seven when he was asked about the clash during a brief break in play.
After surviving a nervous first over from the world’s top-ranked bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, the New South Welshman quickly got on the front foot and stunned fans and experts with his aggression, skill and shot selection.
Aussie cricket great turned commentator Ricky Ponting said Kohli (pictured) instigated the confrontation – and could be in trouble with match officials as a result
Konstas smashed his way to one of the greatest debuts by an Aussie batter in memory as he left the Indian bowlers rattled with his aggression and skill
Konstas failed at playing three ramp shots off Bumrah, before taking the 30-year-old for 14 runs, including a six, off one jaw-dropping over.
By the ninth over, India had reverted to putting fielders out to the boundary in a bid to tame the NSW whiz kid’s attacking attitude.
A villain of the Australian crowds this summer, Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj fired off words to Konstas multiple times, but he remained unfazed.
AKonstas and Khawaja have already put together the highest opening stand by an Australian pair during this series.
The fearless right-hander reached his fifty in just 52 balls in a bit more than an hour at the crease and was eventually out for 60 from just 65 balls.
Earlier, Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and decided to bat first, with the temperature expected to soar to 39 on Thursday.
The series is delicately poised at 1-1 and Australia must win at least one of the the last two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney and prevent India from winning again to regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
The country’s 468th male Test cricketer, Konstas was presented with his baggy green cap by storied former Australia captain Mark Taylor.
He is the fourth youngest Australian male to play at Test level.
Cummins was 18 when he made his Test debut and he has impressed on Konstas the need to enjoy the moment and not be over-awed.
‘There’s a level of naivety, that you just want to go out and play, like you did when you were a kid in the backyard,’ he said.
‘You always want to do well. I was saying this to Sammy the other day, I remember as an 18-year-old thinking ‘I got a lot more leeway, because I was young’ – almost publicly.
‘I almost felt like if I didn’t have a great game, it wasn’t my fault, it was the selectors’ fault for picking me … they’re the idiots who picked an 18-year-old.’