“It’s unnecessary, totally unnecessary” - Ravi Shastri slams Virat Kohli for Sam Konstas controversy in BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri blasted Virat Kohli for barging his shoulder at debutant Sam Konstas on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against Australia on Thursday, December 26 in Melbourne. The cricketer-turned-commentator said the former India captain could've avoided physical contact with the 19-year-old batter.

Notably, Kohli seemingly came in the way of Konstas, who scored 60 off 65 balls, including two maximums and four boundaries off ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah. The senior batter escaped a bigger punishment as the International Cricket Council (ICC) fined him 20 percent of match fees and handed one demerit point.

A level two offense would have resulted in three demerit points and put his participation in the last Test in jeopardy owing to a one-match suspension.

Ravi Shastri told Fox Sports:

"It's unnecessary. Totally unnecessary. You don't want to see that. Virat's a senior player, he's been captain of the side, he'll have his own explanations regarding that, but it's something you don't want to see.”

"One person who will be all over it, though, is Andy Pycroft (match referee),” he added.

Virat Kohli is usually known for his aggressive style of play. The 36-year-old is India’s most successful Test skipper, having guided his team to 40 wins in 68 games.

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“This can be avoidable” – Sunil Gavaskar shares similar sentiments as Ravi Shastri on Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas’ on-field incident

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar shared similar opinions as Ravi Shastri on the Virat Kohli vs Sam Konstas saga in the fourth Test on Day 1.

He said (via Hindustan Times):

“Really, this can be avoidable. I mean, it's like you are walking in a busy pedestrian street, and you see somebody coming at you, you just sway away. There's nothing; it doesn't make you smaller if you move away. That's the thing. And you don't want to see these things on the field. Definitely not.”

Gavaskar, however, ruled out any foul play, saying:

“My first instinct, looking at it without seeing the replays, was that both were looking down, so they didn't see each other coming. Konstas was looking at his bat; Kohli had the ball in his hand, and he was doing something. But with that footage, we'll see who gets fined more this evening.”

On the batting front, Virat Kohli has failed to deliver with the bat since his century in the series opener in Perth. The right-hander returned with scores of seven, 11, and three in the second and third Tests, respectively. As a result, he recently dropped out of the top 20 in the latest ICC Test rankings for batters.

With the five-game series tied at 1-1, Kohli will be crucial as India eyes a hat-trick of Test series wins Down Under.

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