Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has expressed his support for Indian cricketer Virat Kohli regarding the on-field incident involving Australian debutant Sam Konstas during the Boxing Day Test. Konstas, making his first appearance at the MCG, impressed with his aggressive batting, which significantly challenged the Indian bowling lineup led by Jasprit Bumrah in the first innings. Kohli's shoulder-to-shoulder contact with the 19-year-old Konstas occurred as he passed by, with the young player's bold stroke play causing considerable irritation for the Indian fielders.

As a result of the altercation, the ICC imposed a fine of 20 percent of Kohli's match fee. The Indian star faced criticism from former Australian players and local media for his conduct towards the newcomer.

Nevertheless, Clarke has come to Kohli's defense, describing him as a commendable individual and expressing confidence that he would have addressed the situation with Konstas following the match. 

"I know Virat well; he would have had a conversation with Sam after the game. Virat is a great guy. I am certain they would have resolved any issues. I cannot say if Virat apologized or not, but he is not a malicious person. Therefore, I am confident it would have been settled completely," Clarke stated on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast.

‘Virat was getting frustrated with…’

Konstas initially attempted several reverse scoops against Bumrah's deliveries at the beginning of the innings. However, a few overs later, he successfully connected with a couple of shots, which shifted the momentum in favor of Australia.

The former Australian captain suggested that Kohli may have felt a degree of frustration due to Konstas's apparent disregard for Bumrah, who is widely regarded as one of the best bowlers in the world.

"I believe Virat was becoming frustrated with the lack of respect that Sam was demonstrating towards the world's top bowler, Bumrah. That, I think, contributed to Virat's frustration," he remarked.

In the meantime, Kohli has faced challenges in making a significant impact with the bat during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since his century in Perth. He has repeatedly fallen into the same patterns, particularly struggling with deliveries outside the off-stump, which has hindered his performance in the race among the Fab Four. In 2024, he managed to accumulate only 417 runs, averaging a mere 24.52. His ongoing susceptibility to deliveries outside the off-stump—often resulting in edges to the slip cordon or wicketkeeper—has been particularly detrimental, especially throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

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