'Absolute clown': Virat Kohli fined 20 per cent of match fee for 'unnecessary' Sam Konstas exchange

Australian debutant Sam Konstas came face-to-face with Indian veteran Virat Kohli in a tense exchange on the first day of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

At the end of the 10th over, as Konstas was changing ends, Kohli snapped and walked in his path, with the pair bumping shoulders in the middle.

Konstas seemed to be looking away from Kohli when they collided. The ICC has since confirmed Kohli has been fined 20 per cent of his match free for breaching level one of the ICC Code of Conduct.

AS IT HAPPENED: Australia vs India fourth Test, day one

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Kohli didn't hesitate to call out the 19-year-old batting protege, who was flustered and angry after the incident.

"Watch where you're walking," Kohli said to Konstas.

Veteran batter Usman Khawaja rushed to Konstas' side and put his arm around both he and Kohli, in an attempt to diffuse the situation escalating.

It left England great Michael Vaughan defending the Aussie youngster.

"I don't think Sam Konstas has done anything wrong there," he said on Fox.

"Virat is alluding to the fact that Sam might have put the right shoulder in but I think on replay if they took it to VAR, I think it was the right shoulder from Virat.

"He's been rattled by a 19-year-old. Sam Konstas did absolutely nothing wrong there. Virat veered towards him. You can't do that, you're just not allowed to do that."

The altercation even drew the ire of Indian great Ravi Shastri, who condemned the actions of one of the country's all-time greats.

"It's totally unnecessary," he said on Fox Cricket.

"You don't want to see that, especially Virat as a senior player and he's been captain of the side. He'll have his explanation … but it's something that you don't want to see." 

Konstas went on to smack the third-fastest Test debut 50 for an Australian and did so with a swagger unlike any batters that have come before him.

When questioned about the run-in with Kohli, the young gun kept it classy.

"Whatever stays on the field, stays on the field. But I love competing. Doesn't get any better for a debut with this packed stadium," he said on Fox.

Nothing seemed to faze the 19-year-old as he opened the batting on one of cricket's biggest days, in front of a growing Boxing Day crowd, before he was dismissed for an impressive 60 off 65, which included two maximums.

The explosive batter was given out LBW by the umpire in the 20th over, with Ravindra Jadeja the one to end a marvellous innings.

During his time at the crease, Konstas was attempting ramp shots against Indian fast bowler Japsirt Bumrah, and eventually found his knack, putting eight boundaries on and over the fence, at a 92.31 strike rate.

"Just trying to play with some freedom and trying to back myself," Konstas said at the drinks break on Fox.

The teenager was even bold enough to call Bumrah back for more.

"I looked to target him. Hopefully he might come back on, but we will see what happens," he said.

Konstas' fearlessness and Kohli's questionable act also left social media in a spin, as majority leapt to the Australian teen's defence.

"I love Virat but this is some absolute clown behaviour from him. Just a pathetic attempt to intimidate a first Test player. If this was an Australian player everyone would be frothing at the mouth about the ugly Aussies," one X user wrote.

Some were also calling for Kohli to cop a ban for his actions.

"If the ICC isn't entirely weak - which we know it is - Kohli won't be playing at the SCG," Nine commentator Mat Thompson said.

"Every other cricketer in the world would be suspended for his petulant shoulder charge."