Boxing Day Tension: Debutant Sam Konstas and Virat Kohli's Heated Exchange Under ICC Review

Debutant Sam Konstas reflects on his altercation with Virat Kohli during the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India. The ICC is set to review the incident following emotional exchanges and a minor shoulder charge, potentially leading to demerit points for involved players.

Australia's debutant sensation Sam Konstas has opened up about a heated on-field encounter with India's star batter Virat Kohli during the fiercely contested Boxing Day Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The young cricketer admitted that emotions ran high on both sides, leading to the altercation, now under review by International Cricket Council (ICC) officials as reported by cricket.com.au.

The confrontation occurred when Kohli and Konstas walked into each other's paths, exchanging words in the process. The tense moment saw Australia opener Usman Khawaja stepping in to diffuse the situation, with Umpire Michael Gough also intervening as a peacemaker. The match referee Andy Pycroft is expected to scrutinize the incident closely. In a chat with Channel 7, Konstas, reflecting on the episode, said wearing his gloves and a slight shoulder nudge contributed to the misunderstanding, which is not uncommon in cricket, according to ESPNcricinfo.

ICC's Code of Conduct clearly states that any form of deliberate or reckless physical contact, including shoulder charges, is prohibited on the cricket field. Should match referee Andrew Pycroft deem the incident a Level Two offence, either Kohli or Konstas could be penalized with three or four demerit points. Despite the controversy, Konstas showcased his talent by scoring a 60-run knock in his debut, helping set the stage for an enthralling series tied at 1-1. Both teams are keenly eyeing the series lead in the crucial Boxing Day Test, a stepping stone towards the ICC World Test Championship final.

(With inputs from agencies.)