Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah Dragged Into Matthew Kuhnemann Bowling Action Controversy

For the first time since the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India's top cricket player, Virat Kohli, is making a comeback to the Australian press. This time, the incident surrounding Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas during the Boxing Day Test last year has been exploited to accuse the ICC of hypocrisy.

In addition to bringing up Kohli, former Australia captain Tim Paine made a startling claim when he compared Matthew Kuhnemann's bowling motion to Jasprit Bumrah's.

Matthew Kuhnemann, a left-arm spinner for Australia, was recently accused of bowling during the Test series in Sri Lanka. Kuhnemann was one of his team's best players, taking 16 wickets at an average of 17.18 in two Test matches.

Virat Kohli dragged into Matthew Kuhnemann controversy

Ben Horne, an Australian cricket journalist, expressed his displeasure with the ICC's ruling by drawing comparisons to Virat Kohli's sentence following his confrontation with Sam Konstas.

Ben Horne, who wrote for the Daily Telegraph, referred to the ICC as "sport’s biggest toothless tiger" and noted that Kuhnemann was reported even though he bowled with an orthodox action, whereas Kohli received a relatively minor sanction.

"Virat Kohli was hit with one of the softest sanctions of all time, yet match officials in Sri Lanka were happy to make an example out of a five-Test orthodox spinner over a marginal bowling action They are completely different situations that don’t even belong in the same conversation other than the all too familiar running theme that the game’s governing body is sport’s biggest toothless tiger, until an easy target (Matthew Kuhnemann) presents itself," Horne wrote in The Telegraph.

At the MCG, Virat Kohli and Australia's young player Sam Konstas got into a shoulder barge after the latter purposefully altered direction in between overs. After a furious argument between Kohli and Konstas, Usman Khawaja had to mediate the situation.

Following the conclusion of the day's play, Kohli was given a demerit point in addition to a fine equal to 20% of the match fees.

Tim Paine brings in Jasprit Bumrah; compares his bowling action to Matthew Kuhnemann

Tim Paine escalated the dispute by drawing a comparison between Jasprit Bumrah and Matthew Kuhnemann's behavior. Paine made this startling revelation while on Sen Radio, saying that Kuhnemann's movement shows some flexion similar to Bumrah's.

“I think there’s a bit of flexion, not dissimilar to a Jasprit Bumrah. I think he’d be flat as a tack I’d imagine. In cricket, being accused of throwing is not a great mark to have against your name. You’re being accused in a way, of cheating," Paine told SEN Radio.

Bumrah rattled the Aussies singlehandedly

India's finest player during the series was unquestionably Jasprit Bumrah, who took the most wickets in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He was also disqualified from the Champions Trophy after suffering an injury during the last Test match in Sydney.

The ICC has referred to Bumrah's move as "hyperextension" rather than "bending," which is perfectly acceptable under the rules, even though many cricket experts think he chucks.

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