India’s cricketing icons Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have come under fire for their conduct towards Australian youngster Sam Konstas during the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The criticism, which emerged from NSW coach Greg Shipperd, follows days after India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir sharply rebuked Konstas for his heated exchanges with Bumrah.
Konstas, a 19-year-old debutant, made headlines in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground by aggressively taking on Bumrah with a series of audacious shots, including cheeky ramps that electrified the crowd. The atmosphere grew tense when Kohli, India’s former skipper, appeared to shoulder Konstas, an act that resulted in an ICC sanction. Later, the debutant had heated exchanges with Bumrah during matches in both Melbourne and Sydney.
Shipperd criticized Kohli and Bumrah for their “super aggressive” response, labeling it a “disgraceful act” that should have been met with harsher punishment. He expressed confidence in Konstas’ resilience, stating, “He got under the skin of Jasprit and the Indian team. I believe he’ll learn from this and shine in the upcoming Sri Lanka tour.”
Meanwhile, Gambhir defended India’s actions while launching a scathing critique of Konstas and the Australian team. Addressing the controversy, Gambhir dismissed claims of intimidation and accused Australia of being “soft.” He stated, “This is a tough sport for tough players. Konstas had no right to confront Jasprit Bumrah—it’s the umpire’s job to manage the situation, not his.”
The episode has added another layer of drama to the Indo-Australian rivalry, with fans and analysts divided over the incident’s implications for sportsmanship and competitive spirit in cricket.
Stay tuned to Channel 6 Network for more updates on this developing story.
