Virat Kohli faces ban after Sam Konsta’s fireworks rattle India in Boxing Day Test | Cricket

The spirit of Christmas has done nothing to improve Virat Kohli’s temper.

Days after the Indian superstar took exception to local media when he arrived in Melbourne, Kohli had a flashpoint on the field with Australian debutant Sam Konstas at the start of the Boxing Day Test.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting was in no doubt that Kohli had initiated the contact, with the Indian veteran and Australian teenager bumping shoulders after the 10th over.

“Look at the way Virat walks. Virat went a full pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation – no doubt in my mind at all,” Ponting said on the Seven Network.

“I have no doubt that the judges and the referee will take a good look at it.”

Konstas clearly fired up the tourists amid his stunning Test debut. Moments before he and Kohli collided shoulders, paceman Mohammed Siraj had given the teenager a mouthful.

Immediately after the contact, Konstas turned in surprise and Kohli reacted as if to suggest that it was the Australian’s fault. Fellow opener Usman Khawaja, an amused spectator of Konstas’ fireworks, stepped in and put an arm around Kohli as he played peacemaker.

Konstas responded to the incident in the best way possible, getting the first ball of Jasprit Bumrah’s next over for four en route to reaching 60.

After he was dismissed, Konstas said the incident had taken him by surprise.

“I think the emotion got to both of us. I didn’t quite realize I did my gloves and then a little shoulder charge. It happens, it’s cricket,” he told the Seven Network.

Umpire Michael Gough also had words with Kohli and Konstas.

The 19-year-old showed nerves of steel on debut by attacking Bumrah – the world no. 1 ranked bowler who took 21 wickets in the first three Tests to repeatedly destroy Australia’s top order.

Bumrah failed to take a wicket in the first session as Australia went to lunch on 1-112 with Usman Khawaja (38) and Marnus Labuschagne (12) unbeaten.

Konstas was eventually lbw for 60 from 65 balls 30 minutes before lunch to star spinner Ravindra Jadeja, but not before putting together an innings that will go down in Australian cricket folklore.

“(Konstas) has certainly got his nose up a bit,” Ponting said. “Yes, he has confused them. Yes, he has turned up their noses. Yes, there is some frustration out there.”

Kohli had a poor start to his visit to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test, taking local TV reporters to task when they filmed members of his family at the airport.

Apart from his unbeaten 100 in the first Test, Kohli has not scored more than 11.

With the Border-Gavaskar series nicely placed at one-all, India need a big innings at the MCG from their take-no-prisoners star.