Sam Konstas probably didn’t think he’d end up with one of the biggest names in cricket as his apparent nemesis this summer.
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But Virat Kohli has, for the second straight Test, gotten involved with the 19-year-old Aussie opener after the India champion’s strange behaviour after the final ball of the first day of the SCG Test.
Konstas had traded words with new India captain Jasprit Bumrah during the final over as the Aussies tried to slow-play their tense, brief appearance at the crease, but when Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja on the last ball of the day things truly went up a level.
Bumrah almost immediately turned to celebrate in the non-striker Konstas’ face, while replays showed Kohli with an incredibly animated reaction, dashing from the slips to run straight at Konstas, before (this time) veering away towards his teammates.
“This is not normal behaviour (laugh emoji),” News Corp’s Lachlan McKirdy tweeted.
“The kid is 19!! Incredible head loss to the guy who didn’t even get dismissed.”
Meanwhile The Age’s Andrew Wu pointed out the Indian celebrations neared send-off territory, following the tense Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj incident in Adelaide.
“This is great theatre and all, and Sam Konstas isn’t the dismissed batter, but Virat Kohli and a few of his teammates are treading a fine line with their celebrations here,” he said.
It’s the second time in two matches Kohli has gone after Konstas in bizarre circumstances.
The then-debutant’s fast start in the Boxing Day Test had Kohli angry, causing him to walk at the Aussie and bump him with his shoulder.
Kohli was fined 20 percent of his match fee and accepted one demerit point for the incident with most experts believing he got off lightly for the deliberate physical contact.
Earlier Kohli’s underwhelming tour of Australia continued on day one when he was dismissed for 17, but he arguably should’ve been gone first ball after the third umpire appeared to incorrectly determine Steve Smith had dropped him.