NEWS
Follow UsTeam India batter Virat Kohli was fined 20% of his match fee and slapped with one demerit point for his on-field altercation with Australia’s Sam Konstas on December 26 (Thursday), the first day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Kohli was found to have breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match.”
The incident occurred after the end of the 10th over of Australia’s innings. Konstas took off his gloves and started walking towards his batting partner, Usman Khawaja. That’s when Kohli started walking in Konstas’ direction and switched lanes to shoulder bump the Test debutant.
The Indian star turned back and threw a few words at Konstas, who didn’t shy away and gave it back to Kohli. With tempers flaring, Khawaja and the on-field umpires had to separate the duo.
Earlier, during the 10th over, Mohammed Siraj exchanged a few words with the debutant, who also got a long stare from Kohli, to which he didn’t respond.
Kohli received a lot of flack both on social media and from the commentators for his actions. Even Ravi Shastri, former India head coach, called Kohli’s actions ‘totally unnecessary’.
The ICC confirmed that Kohli admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees. There will hence be no formal hearing.
