Day 1 of the fourth Test between India and Australia in Melbourne: a heated exchange between Indian captain Virat Kohli and Australia’s 19-year-old opener Sam Konstas during an intense shoulder-bargers on the field in the ninth over, prompting Kohli to turn and stare into Konstas, where he exchanged a few words. Though the clash occurred, Kohli was not banned but punished with a fine of 20% of his match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It is a Level 1 offence.
Reaction of Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri, India’s former head coach and acquaintance of Kohli, put forward his views about the rift. Speaking on Fox Cricket, Shastri said: “It’s unnecessary. Totally unnecessary. You don’t want to see that. Virat’s a senior player, he’s been captain of the side, he’ll have his own explanations regarding that, but it’s something you don’t want to see.” He humorously also added that ICC match referee Andy Pycroft, who was oversteering the Boxing Day Test, would “be all over it,” especially as this was his 100th match as a referee.
Kohli’s Penalty and ICC’s Decision
The ICC termed the incident as a Level 1 offence and levied a fine of 20% of Kohli’s match fees. This penalty was at par with the fine Mohammed Siraj had received in the second Test in Adelaide for his heated altercation with Travis Head. Match referee Andy Pycroft felt that Kohli’s action did not merit the severe penalty of a ban.
More Tension on Day 1
Kohli’s angry mood prevailed throughout the day. Later, the stump microphone recorded Kohli telling his teammate Mohammed Siraj to “not smile while talking” to the Australian players, which reflected the tenseness in the field.
Australia at Stumps in a Good Position
On the field, Australia ended Day 1 of the Test on a strong note, reaching 311/6 at stumps. The Australian top four all contributed with half-centuries, setting up a competitive position for the second day of play.
This ongoing series continues to witness high emotions and intense moments, as both teams aim to make a mark in the historic Boxing Day Test.
