Former England cricket captain Steve Harmison thinks that Virat Kohli should have received a harsher penalty for his shoulder-to-shoulder clash with 19-year-old Sam Konstas on the first day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Instead of facing a suspension, Kohli was penalized with a 20% deduction from his match fee. Harmison shared his concerns about the leniency of the decision, suggesting that a ban might have been more appropriate for such conduct.
The confrontation unfolded near the end of the 10th over when Kohli collided with Konstas while walking past him. The newcomer and the experienced 36-year-old had a brief exchange after the incident.
An evidently frustrated Kohli turned back to approach Konstas again, but the situation was quickly diffused by umpire Michael Gough and batter Usman Khawaja, who intervened to calm things down between the two players.
Steve Harmison, the former England captain, expressed his disapproval of Virat Kohli’s actions during the incident with Sam Konstas, describing it as unacceptable. “What happened with Kohli there – he was completely out of line,” Harmison stated during his appearance on talkSPORT.
Steve Harmison stated, “Virat Kohli should have received a suspension for what he did.
He continued, “You know how much I admire Virat Kohli and everything he has contributed to cricket, but there are boundaries that must not be crossed.”
The former England fast bowler also shared some advice for the young debutant, Sam Konstas.
Sam showcases incredible flair on the field, combining creative scoops with powerful, commanding shots. But the real question is whether he possesses the defensive technique required to handle Test cricket against the world’s best bowlers,” said Harmison.
He said, “That’s something he needs to concentrate on to improve and develop his skills. If he gets it right, the potential is enormous. His ability to be aggressive, coupled with his strong attacking mindset, sets him up for a promising future.”
Harmison noted, “It looks like he aims to emulate David Warner, but he hasn’t quite reached Warner’s technical level yet.” He added, “If he were to open the batting against England today, I wouldn’t feel too concerned. That said, he’s only 19, and there’s plenty of room for growth. However, if he continues to let his aggression spill over verbally, it might lead to some serious consequences down the line.”
Harmison remarked, “Facing India is one challenge, but competing in the Ashes, with all the pressure involved, is a whole different ballgame.”
“I had no issues with him attempting to rattle India—they were taking their time, and it seemed his strategy worked when they dismissed Khawaja and ultimately won the match. However, the Ashes is a whole new ball game, and it will test him in ways he hasn’t experienced before.”
