Border Gavaskar Trophy: The debate is real over the Virat Kohli vs Sam Konstas controversy

The Boxing Day Test between India and Australia at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground nearly saw tempers flare into a full-blown clash following an incident involving Virat Kohli and 19-year-old Australian debutant Sam Konstas. During a change of ends between overs, Kohli intentionally shouldered Konstas as the latter made his way across the pitch. The act, which quickly drew attention, added fuel to the high-pressure match. The altercation led to Kohli being fined 20% of his match fee by the ICC for a Level 1 breach of conduct, a sanction aimed at maintaining discipline in the game. However, the incident sparked a larger debate among cricketing experts and fans. Many expressed disappointment over Kohli’s actions, suggesting that his behavior could have been more composed.

What are the reactions over the Virat Kohli vs Sam Konstas controversy?

Former India pace bowling all-rounder Irfan Pathan weighed in on the matter, voicing criticism of Kohli’s approach. Pathan highlighted that as a senior player and former captain, Kohli bears the responsibility of setting a positive example on the field. He remarked that Kohli should have refrained from engaging in any physical contact, emphasizing that such actions can overshadow the spirit of cricket and the competitive but respectful nature of the sport. While Kohli’s fiery demeanor is often considered an asset for India’s aggressive brand of cricket, the episode raised questions about drawing the line between intensity and decorum. As the series remains fiercely contested, experts have called for cooler heads to prevail, ensuring the focus stays on the high-quality cricket on display.

“Stay away from contact. You cannot contact a player. You can show aggression and support your players. He is a 19-year-old boy. When we were 19-year-old boys, Hayden, Gilchrist, and all used to make a lot of noise from behind but never touched us. So you could have avoided that on the cricket field," said former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan in a recent interview. 

“I have a question. If it had been Steve Smith, who is Australia's senior player, and one of our 19-year-old boys was making his debut, and he had come and pushed like that, would we have liked it? We would have not liked it at all. Same thing," he added. 

"Yes, you would say that the punishment may be light, considering the experience that he has had. But, that’s the maximum punishment that is decided by the ICC, He has not been done any favour. If, for example, the fine was 10 per cent, then you could have said ‘ah, he has been done a favour’. But, the fine for a Level 1 offence is maximum a 20 per cent. I am not 100 per cent on that, but I am given to understand that there is one demerit point and a fine. That’s the maximum allowed, that’s what has been levied on him. No special favours have been done to him. You can’t hang a man for picking someone’s picket. That’s what the Australian media is asking for," said former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar. 

Sunil Gavaskar supported his viewpoint by drawing parallels to similar incidents in international cricket, emphasizing the consistency in sanctions imposed by the ICC. He highlighted cases involving Ireland’s Josh Little and India’s Jasprit Bumrah, who both faced disciplinary action in the past year for physical contact during matches. Gavaskar recalled that Josh Little was fined 15% of his match fee after an on-field clash with Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza during a heated encounter. The incident, which saw Little bump into Raza, was deemed a Level 1 offense, leading to a financial penalty but no further action. Similarly, Jasprit Bumrah found himself in a comparable situation when he inadvertently made contact with England’s Ollie Pope. However, in Bumrah’s case, the ICC issued only a formal reprimand, as the action was deemed unintentional and less severe.

Gavaskar argued that these examples demonstrate the ICC’s efforts to maintain fairness and proportionality when addressing such incidents. He also pointed out that while emotions often run high in competitive matches, it is essential for players to uphold the spirit of cricket. By referencing these precedents, Gavaskar aimed to underscore that Kohli’s sanction was in line with established guidelines and not an isolated judgment. He called for players to learn from such moments and focus on their game rather than allowing emotions to dictate their actions.

“Not a great look I mean you know physical contact on the cricket field is a complete no-no, so it wasn't great. I think clearly Virat in accepting the charge has taken responsibility. I actually thought Sam showed maturity beyond his years and was actually very kind of gracious to brush it off. What it does is it highlights just the intensity of the competition but also just how much is at stake in this series but yeah not a great look,” Nick Hockley said to SEN Radio.