Australian cricket newcomer Sam Konstas has found himself unexpectedly entangled with one of the sport’s biggest icons, Virat Kohli. The ongoing Test series between India and Australia has witnessed Kohli targeting the 19-year-old opener in a series of dramatic exchanges. The latest incident occurred during the first day of the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) Test when Kohli’s animated reaction after the dismissal of Usman Khawaja raised eyebrows.
Fiery Celebrations at the SCG
Tensions flared in the final moments of Day 1 as Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Khawaja. Instead of just celebrating with teammates, Bumrah turned toward Konstas, who was at the non-striker’s end, prompting an immediate response from Kohli.
Replays showed Kohli sprinting from the slips in an overly exuberant celebration, charging toward Konstas before redirecting his energy to his teammates. This display was met with mixed reactions, with some labeling it as excessive. Cricket journalist Lachlan McKirdy humorously criticized the incident, tweeting, “The kid is 19!! Incredible head loss to the guy who didn’t even get dismissed.”
The Age’s Andrew Wu also noted the intensity of India’s celebrations, comparing them to earlier controversies, such as the heated exchange between Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj in Adelaide. Wu remarked that Kohli and his teammates were “treading a fine line” with their conduct, suggesting it bordered on unsportsmanlike behavior.
A Pattern of Heated Encounters
This isn’t the first time Kohli has confronted Konstas. During the Boxing Day Test, Konstas’s aggressive start riled up Kohli, culminating in an on-field shoulder bump. The International Cricket Council (ICC) fined Kohli 20% of his match fee and handed him a demerit point for the deliberate contact. Many felt the punishment was lenient given the severity of the incident.
Kohli’s frustrations have been amplified by his lackluster performances on this tour, with his most recent dismissal for 17 adding to his woes. However, controversy followed even this moment as replays suggested Steve Smith may have caught Kohli’s first ball cleanly, only for the third umpire to rule otherwise.
For Konstas, the unexpected spotlight has turned his debut summer into a test of resilience, as he faces scrutiny from one of cricket’s most competitive figures.
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