The Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas incident was thought to be dead and buried. But almost a year after it happened in the competitive 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), the can of worms has been reopened. Konstas’ friend and up-and-coming Australian all-rounder Oliver Peake has revealed what Konstas told Kohli during their altercation.
Virat Kohli, good player but bad bloke?
Peake was the 12th man for Australia that day and had run into the field during the drinks break when Usman Khawaja and Sam Konstas were batting in the opening session of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“I remember running him gloves. He and Uzzie (Usman) were out there. It was pretty cool. I think Uzzie was a bit taken aback by the way he was going about it. He looked in the zone and was confident. It was great to watch as a fan and also as a mate,” Peake said on The Grade Cricketer podcast.
The 19-year-old revealed that Konstas chirped back at Kohli after the Indian legend shoulder-barged him while changing ends. “Apparently, when he (Kohli) shoulder-charged him, Sam said, ‘I know you’re a good player, but have some respect,’“ he added.
What happened after Kohli-Konstas’ fight?
In what was Konstas’ debut Test innings, the right-handed opener scored 60 runs from just 65 balls. Australia went on to win the Boxing Day Test by 184 runs and went 2-1 up in the 5-match series. After his innings, Konstas was asked about the incident. The youngster brushed any controversy aside and stated that such incidents happen on the field.
“I think the emotions got to both of us. I didn’t quite realise (it); I was doing my gloves. Then a little shoulder charge (came my way). It happens,” Konstas had told Channel 7.
Kohli was fined 20% of his match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Many weren’t happy with the judgement and felt that Kohli should have been handed a 1-match ban, as he made physical contact with Konstas.
