The Christmas spirit has not helped lift Virat Kohli’s spirits.

A few days after the Indian superstar took exception to the local media upon his arrival in Melbourne, Kohli had an on-field conflict with Australian debutant Sam Konstas at the start of the Boxing Day Test.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting had no doubt that Kohli had initiated the contact as the Indian veteran and the Australian teenager clashed after the 10th over.

“Look at how Virat walks. “Virat went a whole pitch to the right and sparked this confrontation – no doubt in my head,” Ponting said on the Seven Network.

“I have no doubt the umpires and umpires will take a close look at this.”

Clearly, Konstas upset the tourists with his amazing Test debut. Just before he and Kohli clashed, paceman Mohammed Siraj had given the teenager a bite.

Immediately after the touch, Konstas turned around in surprise and Kohli reacted as if to suggest it was the Australian’s fault. Co-opener Usman Khawaja, an amused spectator of Konstas’ batting fireworks, stepped in and put an arm around Kohli as he played peacemaker.

Konstas responded to the incident in the best way possible by scoring 60 off the first ball of Jasprit Bumrah’s next over to make it 4-0.

After his release, Konstas said the incident surprised him.

“I think the emotions got to both of us. I didn’t quite know, I did my gloves and then a little shoulder attack. It happens, it’s cricket,” he told the Seven Network.

Referee Michael Gough also spoke to Kohli and Konstas.

The 19-year-old showed nerves of steel on his debut as he attacked Bumrah – the world’s best bowler who took 21 wickets in the first three Tests, repeatedly destroying Australia’s top position.

Bumrah failed to take a wicket in the first session as Australia went into the lunch break at 1-112 with Usman Khawaja (38) and Marnus Labuschagne (12) unbeaten.

Konstas was eventually found lbw for 60 from 65 balls 30 minutes before lunch against star spinner Ravindra Jadeja, but not before putting together an innings that will go down in Australian cricket folklore.

“(Konstas) definitely turned his nose up a little bit,” Ponting said. “Yes, he unsettled her. Yes, he turned his nose up at them. Yes, there is some frustration out there.”

Kohli got off to a poor start to his visit to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test, confronting local television reporters as they filmed members of his family at the airport.

Apart from his unbeaten 100 in the first Test, Kohli has not scored more than 11.

With the Border-Gavaskar series slowly moving towards a win, India need a big innings from their take-no-prisoners star at the MCG.