Clarke supports Virat Kohli's actions, citing frustration with lack of respect towards Bumrah

Kohli was penalized with a 20 per cent match fee fine by the ICC following an on-field altercation. The Indian cricket star garnered criticism from former Australian players and local media for his conduct towards the debutant player.

However, Clarke has defended Kohli and called him a great guy as he is assured that he would have surely sorted things out with Konstas after the match.

"I know Virat as well, he would have spoken to Sam after the game. Virat’s a great guy. So those two would have sorted it out. I don’t know (if) Virat would have said sorry, whatever it was. Virat is not a nasty person. So that would be fixed 100 per cent," Clarke said on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast.

‘Virat was getting frustrated with…’

Konstas attempted a few reverse scoops on Bumrah's delivery at the start of the innings, but a few overs later, he connected a couple, which shifted the momentum in Australia's favour.

The former Aussie skipper said Kohli might have got a bit frustrated when Konstas showed a lack of respect for the best in the world, Bumrah.

"I think Virat was getting frustrated with the lack of respect that Sam was showing the best bowler in the world in Bumrah. I think that’s what frustrated Virat," he added.

Meanwhile, Kohli has struggled to make an impact with the bat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since the century at Perth. He has been making the same mistakes as his off-side off-stump struggle has pulled him down in the Fab four race. The batting maestro could muster only 417 runs in 2024, averaging a mere 24.52. His persistent vulnerability outside the off-stump – frequently edging deliveries to the slip cordon or wicketkeeper – proved to be his undoing, especially during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

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