The opening day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne witnessed intense drama as Virat Kohli and Australia’s debutant, Sam Konstas, clashed on the field. It happened when both teams were switching ends after the 10th over, and Kohli appeared to shoulder the 19-year-old debutant deliberately. The short altercation quickly turned into a confrontation and received attention from the cricketing community all over.
Ricky Ponting’s Hypocrisy Exposed
As the criticism of the incident gained traction, Indian fans were the first to remind everyone about the hypocrisy of Ponting. A video from a 1998 Coca-Cola Cup in Sharjah again surfaced and showed Ponting arguing with a young, 19-year-old Harbhajan Singh. Having been dismissed by Harbhajan, Ponting got into an argument with him and had a heated verbal exchange before walking off from the field. This incident, which many people have forgotten, was revived into the limelight. As a result, the fans began to accuse Ponting of hypocrisy for condemning Kohli when his own behavior on the field had been the same.
WATCH – What Happened Between Ricky Ponting And Harbhajan Singh
Ricky Ponting BUMPS into Harbhajan Singh.
— Anirudh Kalra (@CricketKalra) December 26, 2024
Full Incident. pic.twitter.com/IDRghHbmMl
Also Read: IND Vs AUS: Loud Cheers For Virat Kohli At MCG, His Reaction Goes Viral Instantly | Watch Video
Social media quickly erupted as fans reminded Ponting of his past confrontations. The comparison between Ponting’s clash with Harbhajan and Kohli’s incident with Konstas was widely discussed, with many pointing out the double standard in how the two were treated by the media and former players.
Ricky Ponting Slams Virat Kohli For Instigating The Incident
Kohli, who had been vocal throughout the day, drew immediate criticism for his role in the incident. Many experts, including former players, accused the Indian captain of instigating the confrontation. Among the loudest critics was former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who didn’t hesitate to condemn Kohli’s actions during his live commentary.
“Have a look where Virat walks. Virat walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever.”
“I have no doubt that the umpires and the referee will have a good look at that. Fielders should be nowhere near the batsman at that stage. It looked to me that Konstas looked up really late; he wouldn’t even know anyone was in front of him. That man on-screen there (Kohli) might have a few questions to answer.”
ICC Takes Action Against Kohli
Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) took swift action against Kohli following the altercation. The Indian captain was fined 20% of his match fee and given a demerit point for his role in the confrontation with Konstas. Despite the criticism and the sanctions, Kohli’s altercation added another layer of drama to an already charged Border-Gavaskar Trophy, leaving fans and pundits debating the fine line between competitive spirit and misconduct.
