NEW DELHI: Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali has opened up on the fresh debate, the recent altercation between Virat Kohli and Australian debutant Sam Konstas during the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday.
The incident occurred when Kohli, seemingly frustrated, collided shoulders with Konstas after the latter’s fiery start with the bat.
READ ALSO: Kohli-Konstas shoulder bump evokes memories of Rabada-Smith clash
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Basit expressed his disappointment, saying, “It’s really disheartening to see this controversy. I’ve engaged in sledging as well, but only verbally and in a mannered way. However, what Virat Kohli did today is hard to believe. If someone asks me for my opinion, I’d say a thousand times over that Virat Kohli is guilty.”
“Take Sachin Tendulkar as an example—we sledged against him so much, but he never responded like this; he always answered with his bat. It’s not even been a year since Virat’s son was born. Imagine when his son is 12 or 13 years old, walking somewhere, and someone pushes him in the same way—how would Virat Kohli feel? Virat intentionally collided today, and it was not accidental,” he added.
READ ALSO: Why Virat Kohli was not handed a ban despite shoulder-bumping Sam Konstas at MCG
The altercation has led to widespread debates about discipline in cricket, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) penalising Kohli with a 20% match fee fine and awarding him a single demerit point under Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which pertains to inappropriate physical contact. Kohli accepted the sanction without protest, avoiding a formal hearing and potential suspension.
Several Australian cricket experts have expressed dissatisfaction with the ICC’s decision, calling it too lenient given the physical nature of the altercation.
Some argue that high-profile players receive undue leniency, reigniting conversations about consistency in enforcing rules.
For Kohli, this is his first demerit point since 2019, sparing him a suspension. However, with stricter enforcement, future incidents could attract harsher penalties.
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