Nearly a year after Virat Kohli’s shoulder-barge incident with Australia’s opener Sam Konstas at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the 2024 Boxing Day Test. The episode prompted much controversy, but Oliver Peake, Konstas’ close friend and Australia’s 12th man on the day, has finally revealed what the two said during the heated exchange.
The incident occurred during what would be Kohli’s final Test series for India. Meanwhile, Australia introduced 19-year-old Sam Konstas, who startled India with his debut innings. His boldness and daring shot selection disrupted the Indian attack, ultimately leading to the incident with Kohli.
Konstas reverse-swept Jasprit Bumrah and was on his way to a fifty, which frightened the Indian bowlers. During a change of ends, Virat Kohli attempted to shake the teenager up with a shoulder charge. The barge resulted in words being exchanged, and the umpire, along with Usman Khawaja, had to step in to keep the situation under control. Konstas later brushed off the incident. However, Peake disclosed the exact words Konstas used to respond to Kohli.
“I remember running him gloves, and him and Uzie out there was pretty cool. Uzie was a bit taken aback by the way he was going about it. He just looked so in the zone and so confident that he was looking fine out there. It was great to watch as a fan and also as a mate. When Kohli shoulder-charged him, Sam said, ‘I know you’re a good player, but have some respect,” Peake said on The Grade Cricketer Podcast.
ICC fines Virat Kohli 20% after MCG shoulder-barge incident with Sam Konstas
The fight was quite the topic of discussion in the series and the ICC subsequently fined Kohli a quarter of his wage bill as a result of violent contact. The nature of the occurrence made many feel that the punishment was not as severe as it should have been.
Konstas also took part in other dramas during the series. The following Test in the SCG he quarreled with Jasprit Bumrah. These remarks by Konstas frustrated Bumrah before the last ball of the day who in turn bowled Usman Khawaja with the next ball.
Despite his impressive debut innings of 60 off 65 balls at the MCG, Konstas was unable to maintain his momentum. Following a spate of low scores against India and then the West Indies, he was left out of Australia’s selection for the first Ashes Test in 2025-26.
