Virat Kohli has been fined 20 percent of his match fees and handed one demerit point for a physical altercation with Sam Konstas of Australia on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test. Tempers flared on Thursday when Kohli and Australia’s Test debutant bumped into each other early on into the contest.
Kohli has been charged for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct that states, “Any form of inappropriate physical contact is prohibited in cricket. Without limitation, players will breach this regulation if they deliberately, recklessly and/or negligently walk or run into or shoulder another player or umpire.”
“When assessing the seriousness of the breach, the following factors (without limitation) shall be taken into account: (i) the context of the particular situation, including, without limitation, whether the contact was deliberate (i.e. intentional), reckless, negligent, and/or avoidable; (ii) the force of the contact; (iii) any resulting injury to the person with whom contact was made; and (iv) the person with whom contact was made.”
Luckily for Kohli, it has not been deemed a Level 2 offence which carries a penalty of three to four demerit points. And, four demerit points would have resulted in suspension for the next contest, which is in Sydney.
The brief showdown took place after the completion of the 10th over of the Australian innings when the players were crossing over.
Both players quickly turned around to glance at each other and engaged in a heated exchange of words with Konstas’ teammate Usman Khawaja stepping in to separate them. The on-field umpires also had a word with the duo.
“I think the emotions got to both of us,” Konstas said later. “I didn’t quite realise, I was doing my gloves, then a little shoulder charge, but it happens in cricket,” he added.
Konstas, who was on 27 at the time, went on to hit Jasprit Bumrah for two boundaries and a six in the next over.
The teenager scored a stunning fifty on debut before Ravindra Jadeja trapped him leg before wicket.
Konstas might have dismissed it as routine but former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting blamed Kohli for instigating the exchange.
“Have a look where Virat walks. Virat’s walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever,” Ponting said on Channel 7 while watching the replay of the incident.
“I have no doubt that the umpires and the referee will have a good look at that. Fielders should be nowhere near the batsman at that stage.
“It looked to me that Konstas looked up really late, wouldn’t even know anyone is in front of him. That man on-screen there (Kohli) might have a few questions to answer,” Ponting added.
