Usman Khawaja Opens Up on His Role in Cooling Kohli-Konstas Altercation

December 26, 2024

The 4th Test between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) witnessed high drama on Day 1 as Virat Kohli and Australian batter Sam Konstas had a heated exchange on the field. The confrontation became the highlight of the day, with Usman Khawaja, who was at the non-striker’s end, stepping in to diffuse the tension.

The incident occurred as Konstas and Khawaja were crossing the pitch, and Kohli, in a moment of frustration, shoulder-pushed Konstas. This quickly escalated into a verbal spat between the Indian star and the Australian batter. Khawaja, who had a clear view of the situation, put an arm around Kohli’s shoulder in an effort to calm him down.

“I’ve Known Virat for Years”: Khawaja Explains

After the match, Khawaja revealed his motivation behind intervening. “I’ve known Virat for a long time. He came to the academy when I was in the Under-19s, and we’ve been mates since then,” Khawaja said. “I just told him, ‘Relax, I’ll handle it. You don’t need to get involved.’ It was fine after that.”

When asked to disclose the exact details of his conversation with Kohli, Khawaja declined with a smile. “Some things are better left on the field. You don’t need to know everything,” the 38-year-old opener added humorously.

A Tense Opening Day

The altercation between Kohli and Konstas overshadowed the cricketing performances on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test. Australia’s top-order batters, including Travis Head, delivered solid performances, with four of them scoring half-centuries. Meanwhile, India’s pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, stood out by picking three crucial wickets, including that of Khawaja, who mistimed a pull shot to KL Rahul at square leg.

Coach Unaware of the Details

India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar admitted that he was unaware of the specifics of the incident. “We were discussing something completely unrelated at the time, so I’m not sure what transpired between them,” Nayar said during the post-match press conference. “In a high-intensity game like this, emotions are bound to flare up, but I don’t think it’s as serious as it’s being made out to be.”

ICC Takes Action

While the exact words exchanged between Kohli and Konstas remain a mystery, the incident did not go unnoticed by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Kohli was fined 20% of his match fee and handed a demerit point for his actions, whereas Konstas faced no sanctions.

As the Boxing Day Test continues, the fiery exchange serves as a reminder of the passion and intensity that cricket can evoke on the biggest stages.