Syed Kirmani Comments on Kohli-Konstas Dispute: A Reflection of Today’s Players

Bengaluru, Dec 27 (NationPress) The altercation involving Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas on the first day of the fourth Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has ignited extensive discussion. Syed Kirmani, the 1983 World Cup-winning wicket-keeper, has weighed in on the situation, stating that the current generation of cricketers embodies a ‘cannot-take-it-lying-down’ approach.

The incident occurred during an intense phase of play when Konstas was performing well, and Kohli inadvertently collided with the 19-year-old between overs. “We played with a sense of sportsmanship. However, it's not accurate to say that our modern cricketers lack that quality. The issue here is about retaliation. The attitude and approach have evolved. We can no longer just accept things without responding; we must retaliate,” Kirmani expressed to IANS.

Kohli faced charges under Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which addresses “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee, or any other individual (including a spectator during an International Match).” The Indian batsman acknowledged the charges, which eliminated the requirement for a formal hearing.

“This reflects the new mindset of contemporary cricketers. In our era, while sledging existed, we chose not to retaliate. We simply turned away and ignored it. The purpose of retaliation and sledging is to disrupt the focus of players, especially when a skilled batsman is at the crease delivering an outstanding performance,” he elaborated.

The 1983 World Cup champion has also released an autobiography titled 'Stumped', which offers an insider's perspective on what is regarded as one of the most significant accomplishments in cricket history. The 74-year-old Kirmani believes that India's first World Cup victory has inspired today’s generation and established the groundwork for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to evolve into one of the most robust and affluent boards globally.

“To claim that winning the World Cup was entirely unexpected is an understatement; we hardly anticipated advancing to the knockout rounds. We achieved what seemed impossible. The foundation we laid in 1983 has significantly benefited the current group of cricketers and the BCCI,” Kirmani added.