Watch: Intense clash erupts between Australia and Indian fans over Virat Kohli at MCG

Indian star Virat Kohli grabbed attention during the Boxing Day Test match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), not for his batting but for his actions on the field. As Virat Kohli walked out to bat in the final session of the second day’s play, the MCG crowd greeted him with loud boos.

Kohli was fined 20 percent of his match fees by the ICC for deliberately shoulder-barging Australian youngster Sam Konstas on Day 1 (Thursday, December 26) of the Test match. The incident occurred during the first session of the opening day. The former Indian skipper accepted his mistake for his actions.

Watch: Virat Kohli Faces Boos From Melbourne Crowd During Day 2

After India lost Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in the second session, Virat Kohli walked out to bat alongside opener Yashasvi Jaiswal at the start of the post-Tea session. While a large section of Australian fans greeted the 36-year-old batter with boos, Indian supporters countered the jeers with applause.

Have a look at the incident right here:

Booing vs "Kohli, Kohli" 🗣

It's the #ToughestRivalry between fans in the stands at the MCG! 🔥#AUSvINDOnStar 👉 4th Test, Day 2 | LIVE NOW! #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/duTJ3ZYwP4

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 27, 2024

Test Cricket at Its Very Best - Irfan Pathan

"These two will have a bit of a contest—one on the field and perhaps another in the stands. As soon as Virat Kohli came out to bat, loud boos erupted from a section of Australian fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. However, there were also many Indian fans who wholeheartedly welcomed him with applause," a commentator said.

"At the moment, one corner of the field is shouting in support of Virat Kohli. Meanwhile, in another part, there’s a different kind of battle going on between Indian and Australian fans. This clash of cheers and boos has become its own contest. Test cricket at its very best," Irfan Pathan said.

Kohli showcased patience while batting in the first innings. The right-handed batter added 102 runs off 158 balls with Yashasvi Jaiswal for the third wicket.

However, the partnership was broken after a horrible mix-up between the two batters in the middle. Jaiswal was dismissed after scoring 82 runs off 118 balls with the help of 11 boundaries and one six.

Kohli was also dismissed after scoring 36 runs off 86 balls. They collapsed from 153/2 to 159/5 just before the stumps. India scored 164/5 at the stumps with Ravindra Jadeja (4) and Rishabh Pant (6) at the crease.

Virat Kohli's Ploy to Unsettle Sam Konstas Backfired On Day 1

Sam Konstas entered the senior Australian side with high expectations after winning the ICC U19 World Cup and producing remarkable performances in first-class cricket, including a standout century against India during a pink-ball warm-up match for the Prime Minister’s XI at Manuka Oval.

Konstas displayed remarkable confidence and fearlessly played unorthodox shots. To unsettle the young batter, Virat Kohli resorted to his trademark aggressive tactics, including bumping into Konstas and making shoulder-to-shoulder contact. However, the ploy backfired as Konstas responded brilliantly.

The 19-year-old smashed star bowler Jasprit Bumrah for several big shots, including a reverse ramp. He scored 34 of his total 60 runs against Bumrah in the first innings.

Also read: Watch: Pat Cummins' ABSOLUTE SEED demolishes KL Rahul's stumps in MCG Test