"You won't see Cristiano Ronaldo do anything like that" - Former England cricketer slams Virat Kohli for shoulder-barging Sam Konstas

Former England left-arm spinner Monty Panesar has criticized Virat Kohli for shoulder-barging Australian debutant Sam Konstas on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne on Thursday, December 26. While being critical of the Indian cricketer, Panesar opined that some of the other sporting superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn't resort to such tactics.

Batting first after winning the toss, Australia posted 311-6 on Day 1 of the fourth Test against India at the MCG. Debutant Konstas got the hosts off to an excellent start, hammering 60 off 65 balls, with the aid of six fours and two sixes. The youngster featured in an opening stand of 89 with Usman Khawaja (57) before being trapped leg before by Ravindra Jadeja.

In an interview with Timesofindia.com, Panesar opined that Kohli might be regretting his action of shoulder-barging Konstas. He also stated that the Indian superstar must be suspended if he repeats the offense, urging Kohli to learn from the likes of football superstar Ronaldo. Sharing his thoughts on the incident that dominated Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test, Panesar commented:

"I suppose for him to be suspended for behavior like that is probably a little bit harsh. He obviously deliberately shoulder-barged Konstas, and he didn't need to do it. If he does it again, and he misbehaves in the second innings, they (India) go after him (Konstas), then yeah, obviously give him a suspension because first time is a warning, second time suspension.

"...You won't see Cristiano Ronaldo do anything like that; you won't see some of the other big superstars, when there's a youngster making his debut, do that. But good on him (Konstas), good to stand up because they were trying to intimidate him, trying to bully him by Virat Kohli barging him (so that) he goes into his shell or gets out. But he didn't. He took them on. Hit them out of the ground, hit them everywhere. That's what you want to do," the 42-year-old went on to add.

Elaborating on the shoulder-barging incident, Panesar claimed that Konstas seemed to have rattled India with his scoops, reverse scoop and ramp strokes. The former England cricketer claimed that Kohli's reaction was a clear case of him being frustrated.

"The fact is that this youngster rattled India. It's as simple as that. He threw punches at them, played a few shots, and they didn't like it. He played his reverse scoop shots and hit Jasprit Bumrah for a six over third-man, which, I think, hurt India's ego. Then Kohli doing that, he obviously instigated it," Panesar added.

Apart from Konstas and Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne (72) and Steve Smith (68*) also struck half-centuries for Australia. At stumps on Day 1, skipper Pat Cummins (8*) was giving Smith company.

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Virat Kohli fined 20 percent of his match fee for shoulder-barging Sam Konstas

Kohli has been fined 20 percent of his match fee and awarded one demerit point for shoulder-barging Konstas on Day 1 of the MCG Test. The Indian batter has been penalized for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct.

A report on ICC's official website stated that Kohli has been punished as per Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to: “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator during an International Match).”

There was no need for a formal hearing in the matter as the Indian cricketer accepted the sanctions proposed by Match Referee Andy Pycroft. The charges were leveled by on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Shawn Craig.