'Disappointing coming from one of your best players' - Alyssa Healy on Virat Kohli-Sam Konstas shoulder bump incident

The opening day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) saw a mid-pitch altercation involving Virat Kohli and Australian debutant Sam Konstas earlier in the day.

The incident occurred in the first session of play when Kohli and Konstas bumped shoulders after the latter had frustrated the Indian bowling attack with his aggressive approach. Konstas, who opened the batting alongside Usman Khawaja, had taken on the Indian pace attack with relative ease. 

However, at the end of the 10th over Kohli deliberately walked into Konstas' path, leading to an exchange of words between the two players. Khawaja and umpire Michael Gough intervened to de-escalate the situation, but the confrontation grabbed significant attention.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is likely to examine the incident. Australia women’s team captain Alyssa Healy expressed her disappointment at Kohli’s behaviour, calling it unattractive of a player of his stature. 

“It’s a tricky one. Probably more disappointing than anything else that your experienced player, one of your best players in the country, as well is quite visibly looking at the wider picture and made a beeline for the youngest player in the opposition. It doesn’t really set the greatest tone for your side. But if that’s one way the Indian team wants to approach it, so be it. But it didn’t rattle him one bit," Alyssa Healy said on Fox Cricket.

Also Read: WATCH: 'Has ke baat nahi karna inse' - Virat Kohli to Mohammed Siraj during Day 1 of fourth Test

Kohli might have a few questions to answer: Ricky Ponting

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting also pointed at Kohli for the reason of the altercation, mentioning that the star batter deliberately instigated the clash. Despite the heated moment, Konstas displayed remarkable poise, scoring a gritty fifty on debut before falling to Ravindra Jadeja.

"Have a look where Virat walks. Virat walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever. It looked to me that Konstas looked up really late, wouldn’t even know anyone is in front of him. That man on-screen there (Kohli) might have a few questions to answer," Ponting said on air (via 7Cricket).