'Smell The Coffee Soon': Sunil Gavaskar Takes Sarcastic Dig At Aussie Media Over Kohli-Konstas Fiasco

'Smell The Coffee Soon': Sunil Gavaskar Takes Sarcastic Dig At Aussie Media Over Kohli-Konstas Fiasco

Authored by : Megha Mallick Updated Dec 31, 2024, 13:56 IST

Ace India batter Virat Kohli had bumped Sam Konstas during the fourth Test at Melbourne, an act for which he copped a 20 per cent fine from ICC, besides getting booed by the Aussie fans. Read More

Photo : AP

'Smell The Coffee Soon': Sunil Gavaskar Takes Sarcastic Dig At Aussie Media Over Kohli-Konstas Fiasco

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has said that while most people in Australia have understood that they don't hold the same veto power as before in world cricket, the media hasn't yet taken it in and they need to wake up and 'smell the coffee soon'. Gavaskar voiced his angst against the Australian media for portraying Virat Kohli in a bad light over the Sam Konstas incident.

The star India batter had bumped Konstas during the fourth Test at Melbourne, an act for which he copped a 20 per cent fine from ICC, besides getting booed by the Aussie fans.

Kohli was booed and jeered while walking back to the dressing room after his dismissal in the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne in the first innings as well.

"The match referee, Andy Pycroft, who was officiating in his 100th Test, had earlier in the year also levied a penalty for a similar offence on (Ireland’s) Josh Little. The maximum allowed under the offence is what Kohli got, so for the Aussie media to insinuate that he got off lightly is again a whole load of codswallop," Gavaskar wrote in his column for the Sportstar.

"While the players and administrators in Australia have understood that times have changed and the veto power that England and Australia had is history, the media has still not come to terms with the fact that they no longer can influence World cricket. Hopefully, they will wake up and smell the coffee soon," Gavaskar added.

Kohli's conduct became a hot topic in the fourth Test where he shoulder-charged 19-year-old debutant Konstas on the opening day. It resulted in a fine and a demerit point.

As Kohli entered the tunnel leading up to the dressing room, fans in that section of the Melbourne Cricket Ground started booing him and also made some comments in a short clip that has since gone viral.

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