Star India batsman Virat Kohli has been fined for barging into 19-year-old Australian debutant Sam Konstas on an explosive first day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne on Thursday.
After the end of the day's play, the ICC fined Kohli 20 per cent of his match fee and handed him one demerit point for breaching the code of conduct, leaving him free to play in the remainder of the fifth and final Test in Sydney.
Konstas stunned the Indian team with an extraordinary fifty on debut, playing incredibly audacious shots that could be deemed dangerous even for T20 cricket.
A mix of reverse scoops and flicks, especially against India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, brought the MCG alive and forced India early on to the backfoot. His innings clearly rattled the visitors and the situation came to a boil when Kohli bumped into the 19-year-old as he walked down the pitch for a chat with fellow opener Usman Khawaja at the end of the 10th over.
Replays showed Kohli changed his path as he crossed over and walked towards Konstas, resulting in the physical contact.
There was a heated exchange of words between Kohli and Konstas, prompting umpire Michael Gough and Khawaja to step in.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who was covering the game for host broadcaster Seven Network, said Kohli was in the wrong.
"That man (Kohli) might have a few questions to answer," Ponting said. "When you’re out there batting, the batsman owns the wicket. The crease is his. Especially between overs like that. Virat’s walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that.”
Former England captain Michael Vaughan also put the blame on the 36-year-old.
"Virat Kohli is such an experienced pro, being wound up by a 19-year-old," the former batsman said on Fox Cricket. "It's Virat that walks into Sam."
Called up in place of Nathan McSweeney, Australia's youngest-ever opener opted to face the first over from Bumrah and survived a testing opening burst where he was beaten several times.
Konstas then decided to hit Bumrah off his length as he reverse ramped him for two fours and a six in one over, bringing the crowd alive.
Then came the flare-up between Kohli and Konstas. But the teenager refused to take a step back as he slammed 18 off the next Bumrah over, including another six.
His half-century came off just 52 balls with two from Mohammed Siraj – the third-fastest on debut for Australia.
Konstas was eventually dismissed for 60 off 65 balls, trapped lbw by Ravindra Jadeja before lunch.
At the other end Khawaja played cautiously on a tricky surface to grind his way to a 27th Test fifty.
Bumrah finally removed him after a 121-ball stay with Khawaja's pull shot going only as far as KL Rahul at midwicket.
Thereafter, Australia's batting mainstays Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith put their head down and carried the innings forward.
Both looked fairly comfortable despite the scoring rate slowing down after the dismissal of Konstas and took the score past 200 for the loss of just two wickets.
India's fifth and sixth bowlers had been pressed into play. Off-spinner Washington Sundar, selected in place of batsman Shubman Gill, provided the breakthrough as he got Labuschagne driving down the ground, caught by Kohli for a well made 72.
Australia suffered a mini-collapse as they went from 237-2 to 246-5. The dangerous Travis Head was ought for a duck, shouldering arms to Bumrah, while out-of-form Mitchell Marsh swung wildly at Bumrah to nick one behind.
Smith held one end up, bringing up a masterful fifty and received good support from wicketkeeper Alex Carey (31) who helped take the score towards 300.
Former captain Smith was unbeaten on 68 as the Aussies closed the day on 311-6 in front of more than 87,000 fans.
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Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
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Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
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Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
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Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
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