Virat Kohli should have been banned for Sam Konstas episode: Steve Harmison

Virat Kohli should have been banned for Sam Konstas episode: Steve Harmison. (Photo Source: Disney+Hotstar)

The fourth Test of the 2024-25 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was off to a high-octane start as the 19-year-old debutant Sam Konstas got off to a blazing start to put the Indians under the pump. Many eyebrows were raised when Virat Kohli shoulder-barged the youngster, with the the untoward gesture stirred up a flurry of discussions in the cricket fraternity.

Konstas’ opening partner Usman Khawaja and umpire Michael Gough had to intervene to diffuse the situation. For the unversed, Kohli was fined 20% of his match fee by the International Cricket Council as well as awarded a demerit point for the same as he was charge for a Level 1 offence as per the ICC Code of Conduct. 

Former English pacer Steve Harmison has spoke about the incident during a recent discussion. Harmison, an avid fan of the senior Indian player, was highly critical of the incident and the flow of events which followed.  

“What happened with Kohli there – Kohli was bang out of order. Virat Kohli should have been banned for what he did. You know how much I love Virat Kohli and what he has done for the game, but there’s a line, and you do not cross it,” expressed Harmison while speaking on talkSPORT Cricket.

Also Read: Part of me thinks Sam Konstas won’t play even 10 Test matches: Steve Harmison

Meanwhile, Konstas ended up notching up his maiden half-century in his debut innings in international cricket. The brisk 65-ball 60 comprised of six fours and two maximums. Both the sixes came off eventual leading wicket-taker and Player of the Series, Jasprit Bumrah. Kohli, on the other hand, could score only 36 in his side’s first innings as they conceded a substantial lead. India eventually fell short by 184 runs in front of a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground to lose the game.