BGT 2024-25: Virat Kohli made "inappropriate physical contact" with Sam Konstas, says former umpire Simon Taufel

Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas exchanged words during the first day of the Boxing Day test.

Sam Konstas made headlines for multiple reasons during the first day of the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 test in Melbourne. Making his test debut in front of a full-house Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) crowd in the Boxing Day test, Konstas gave Australia an excellent start making 60 off 65 balls.

However, it wasn’t just the 60 runs, but the manner in which he scored them will please the Australian management. The 19-year-old opener audaciously ramped Jasprit Bumrah, the leading wicket-taker of the ongoing series, three times in a single over.

Konstas put 89-run opening stand with Usman Khawaja — the highest for Australia in the series so far before being trapped LBW by Ravindra Jadeja.

Interestingly, during his innings, after the completion of Jadeja’s over, Konstas had an incidental physical contact with star Indian batter Virat Kohli. As Konstas walked to the other end, Kohli brushed off his shoulder, initially appearing to be an accident.

The incident was followed by an exchange of words between the two batters. Former umpire Simon Taufel has now shared his thoughts on the matter.

Simon Taufel on Virat Kohli – Sam Konstas altercation

Speaking to Channel 7 about the incident, former umpire Simon Taufel remarked that Kohli appeared to change his path, and his behavior could be considered inappropriate physical contact under the ICC’s Code of Conduct.

Simon said, “This long shot that’s been provided by the director is really interesting because it shows Virat Kohli actually changing his line to get into the personal space of Sam Konstas.”

He concluded saying, “Now, there’s a clause within the ICC Code of Conduct that talks about inappropriate physical contact and that’s the clause that the umpires and the referee will be looking at, at close of play today to see whether or not Virat’s actions fall into that category and my suggestion would be that they’ll probably – looking at that seriously – more than likely do something about that now.“

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