Australia vs India Australia's Sam Konstas has a confrontation with India's Virat Kohli on day one of the fourth cricket Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on Thursday. Photo: Martin Keep/AFP
Image: Martin Keep/AFP
Virat Kohli was called out by some of the game's greats on Thursday after appearing to deliberately bump shoulders with young Australian batsman Sam Konstas in the fourth Test.
The Indian veteran made forceful contact with the 19-year-old debutant after Konstas belted the bowlers around the Melbourne Cricket Ground on his way to a blistering 60 off 65 balls.
It sparked a heated exchange between the pair in the first session, with Konstas' fellow opener Usman Khawaja and umpire Michael Gough intervening.
"Virat walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation," Ricky Ponting said on Australia's Channel Seven. "No doubt in my mind whatsoever.
"I have no doubt that the umpires and the referee will have a good look at that."
Former India coach Ravi Shastri called Kohli's actions "absolutely unnecessary".
"Virat's a senior player, he's been captain... he'll have his own explanations with regards to that, but it's one thing you don't want to see," he said on Fox Sports.
"One person who will be watching, his eyes locked into the proceedings, is (match referee) Andy Pycroft."
International Cricket Council rules prohibit physical contact with another player and the governing body could issue a fine or demerit points.
Ex-England captain Michael Vaughan, also on commentary duties in Australia, said Kohli "completely acted wrong".
"I don't know why a senior pro who's played for so long... why's he's been rattled by a 19-year-old. Sam Konstas did absolutely nothing wrong there," he added.
Konstas, called into the side after Nathan McSweeney was axed, played down the incident in a post-match news conference.
"I was just doing my gloves and I think he accidently bumped me. But that's just cricket, the tension," said the teenager, Australia's youngest-ever opener.
AFP