Australian newspaper mocks Virat Kohli as 'clown'

A popular Australian newspaper depicted Indian cricket star Virat Kohli as a clown on its sports page. The mockery follows Kohli’s on-field altercation with Australian opener Sam Konstas during the first day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

According to media reports, while the ICC fined Kohli 20 percent of his match fee for the incident, the Australian media appears unwilling to let the matter rest.

The West Australian newspaper went as far as labeling Kohli as "Clown Kohli" and even used the term "coward" to describe him. The paper altered Kohli’s image, adding a clown’s nose to his face.

The incident occurred during the first day of the fourth Test match in Melbourne. The tension began when 19-year-old Australian opener Sam Konstas delivered an exceptional performance, hitting Indian bowler Jasprit Bumrah for several boundaries, leaving the Indian fielders visibly unsettled.

In the 10th over, Kohli and Konstas clashed shoulders, resulting in a heated exchange. The confrontation was quickly defused by Australian batter Usman Khawaja and the match umpires.

Following the altercation, Kohli was penalised with a 20 percent match fee deduction and a demerit point.

At the post-match press conference, Konstas downplayed the clash, attributing it to a misunderstanding. "I was adjusting my gloves, and I think he accidentally collided with me," he explained.