AUS vs IND 2024: Ravi Shastri reacts to Australian media calling Virat Kohli 'clown' after Konstas altercation

The fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia witnessed another media storm. Star Indian batter Virat Kohli, became the target of an insulting depiction by an Australian newspaper following an on-field confrontation with young Australian opener Sam Konstas on Day 1. Former Indian cricketer and coach, Ravi Shastri has now opened up on the controversy.

The confrontation between Kohli and Konstas, which included shoulder contact, drew criticism from former Australian players and led to ICC sanctions. Kohli was fined 20% of his match fee for a Level 1 breach, avoiding a severe penalty. The Australian media, however, escalated the matter by publishing a caricature of Kohli with a clown's nose, labelling him “Clown Kohli” and accusing him of unsportsmanlike behaviour.

Shastri spoke about the over-the-top reaction as a predictable outcome of Australia’s desperation. Shastri pointed out that Australia has not won a Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) against India since 2011.

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"You expect that in a home country. I wish our country would stand up for our players in situations like this in a bigger way. I am not surprised by this at all, simply because Australia hasn’t won here in 14–15 years. The last time they won a Test match at the MCG was in 2011. So, when they get an opportunity to go berserk, they will go berserk," Ravi Shastri told Star Sports.

The former coach went on to say that the hosts are frustrated with the way the series is panning out. He believes if Aussies were ahead in the series, the headline would have been different.

"In many ways, it’s a little bit of desperation. You know, you are three matches into the series, the scoreline is 1–1, and you have still not won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. You know, you’ve got to win at Melbourne. So, all these things creep in. I’ve been to Australia many, many times. It’s like the whole country comes behind the team—not just the crowds, but the media as well. I am not surprised because I see that sense of desperation. If Australia had already been 3–0 or 2–0 up, the headlines might have been different," he added.

Shastri also opened up on the portrayal of Kohli in the media, describing it as targeting the former Indian captain. On the sanctions imposed on Kohli, Shastri emphasized that the ICC had followed due protocol, stating that similar incidents in the past, such as the Kagiso Rabada-Steve Smith altercation in 2018.

“It’s like the whole country comes behind the team—not just the crowds but the media as well. This is their chance to paint someone as the villain. I know where that’s coming from. It’s built up over a period of time, and it had to come out somewhere. Someone had to be the target. Then they got the opportunity with that physical incident yesterday. They said, ‘This is our chance; let’s get pens and paintbrushes out and start doing all sorts of things.’ You saw that thing on Virat Kohli’s nose. I mean, they forgot to paint the seam there—that would have been a ball. Like I said, the match referee has done his job; the fine has been set at 20% of his match fee," Shastri concluded.