Days after the Indian superstar took exception to local media when he arrived in Melbourne, Kohli had an on-field flashpoint with Australian debutant Sam Konstas at the start of the Boxing Day Test.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting had no doubt Kohli had initiated the contact, with the Indian veteran and the Australian teenager bumping shoulders after the 10th over.
"Look at the way Virat walks. Virat walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation - no doubt in my mind whatsoever," Ponting said on the Seven Network.
"I have no doubt that the umpires and the referee will have a good look at that."
For those of you still thinking it was Konstas who initiated the impact, let me put it into cricket terms for you. #AUSvIND #konstas #kholi pic.twitter.com/GqJ1kFSWch— 🅜�🅡🅚 � (@MarkEMarkAU) December 26, 2024
Konstas was clearly riling the tourists in the midst of his astonishing Test debut - moments before he and Kohli bumped shoulders, paceman Mohammed Siraj had given the teenager a mouthful.
After he was dismissed for 60, Konstas said the incident had caught him by surprise.
"I think the emotions got to both of us. I didn't quite realise, I was doing my gloves and then a little shoulder charge. It happens, it's cricket," he told the Seven Network.
That's pathetic from Kohli #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/cFjKoRG2hz— Ed (@terkey76) December 26, 2024
Immediately after the contact, Konstas turned in surprise and Kohli reacted, as if to suggest it was the Australian's fault.
Fellow opener Usman Khawaja, an amused spectator to Konstas's batting fireworks, stepped in and put an arm around Kohli as he played peacemaker.
Umpire Michael Gough also had words with Kohli and Konstas.
Sam Konstas's aggressive batting in his debut Test clearly had the tourists rattled at the MCG. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
Indian great Ravi Shastri, who used to be Kohli's Indian coach, was unimpressed.
"That's totally unnecessary, we don't want to see that," Shastri told Fox Sports.
"Virat's a senior player, he's been captain ... he'll have his own explanations with regards to that, but it's one thing you don't want to see.
"One person who will be watching, his eyes locked into the proceedings, (match referee) Andy Pycroft."
The Australian debutant reacted to the incident in the best-possible way, belting the first ball of Jasprit Bumrah's next over for four on the way to making 60.
"(Konstas) has definitely gotten up their nose a little bit," Ponting said.
"Yes, he's flustered them. Yes, he's got up their nose. Yes, there is some frustration out there."
Kohli had a bad 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.
Other than his unbeaten 100 in the first Test, Kohli has not scored more than 11.
With the Border-Gavaskar series delicately poised at one-all, India need a big innings at the MCG from their take-no-prisoners star.
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