Why Virat Kohli Targeting Sam Konstas Was Shameless, Needless And Fruitless



Virat Kohli targets Sam Konstas at the MCG. [Source: AP Photos]Virat Kohli targets Sam Konstas at the MCG. [Source: AP Photos]

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If severe criticism around his diminishing supply of runs wasn’t already enough, former India captain Virat Kohli provided another reason for his detractors to find faults in his on-field behaviour. For a change, this isn’t about Kohli’s batting but about the way he treated Sam Konstas on the first day of the ongoing fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test match in Melbourne.

The fact that the 19-year-old, fourth-youngest Australian Test debutant, scored 60 (65) to deny in-form India vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah a wicket in his first spell speaks highly about his skill, confidence and audacity.

"I won't watch too much [of Jasprit Bumrah]. I have already seen him a lot. But I am excited to challenge myself and face him. Usually, our analysts do a little feedback on each bowler. I might read that, maybe," Konstas had told AAP  before his Test debut.

In what will be remembered as one of the most entertainingly adventurous debuts in a long time, Konstas scooped Bumrah for a six to become the first batter in four years to hit a six off him in this format. This, despite failing to do it previously only to see opponents laughing at him.

Virat Kohli's Pugnacious Programme Didn't Work At The MCG

Kohli, who left no stone unturned in initiating a shameless, needless and fruitless battle against Konstas, found himself on the losing side by the time the latter was dismissed by India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in the 20th over.

Having not been at his usual aggressive self on the field in the recent years, Kohli, for some strange reason, thought of targeting Konstas but all he managed was embarrassing himself in front of someone who is almost half his age and has played way less than one-tenth first-class matches than him.

With India unable to dismiss a batter in the first hour, Kohli’s distress state forced him to smile and stare at Konstas before eventually unnecessarily shoulder budging him. While it tells how desperately the 36-year-old player wanted to disturb the right-handed batter’s focus, Konstas’ undaunting fearlessness of youth allowing him to enter a record list in spite of Kohli’s regular prodding amid the momentousness of the occasion tells how big of a victory it was for him.

Kohli, who seemed to have taken a leaf out of former Australian cricketers' books regarding singling out rookie opponents, perhaps failed to realize that all of that comes across as childish if the target registers a triumph. With Konstas set to bat three more times in this series, how Kohli treats him from hereon will be interesting entertaining to see.