India’s Virat Kohli barges into Australia’s Sam Konstas on Day 1 of the fourth Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. (Screengrab via X/@7Cricket)
India’s Virat Kohli has been fined 20 percent of his match fee and will have one demerit point added to his disciplinary record for his shoulder barge on Sam Konstas on the first day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The incident between Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas occurred at the end of the 10th over of Australia’s innings.
As per an ICC press release, “Kohli walked up to batter Sam Konstas and negligently bumped his shoulder with the batter inappropriately.”
Virat Kohli has been fined for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct. He 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.”
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Explained: Why was Kohli just fined and not banned?
India’s Virat Kohli, talks to Australia’s Sam Konstas, second left, as Australia’s Usman Khawaja, right, looks on during play on the first day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia. (AP)The ICC deemed that Kohli had committed a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points. When a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned.
It must be added that two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player.
Demerit Points will remain on a player or player support personnel’s disciplinary record for a period of twenty-four (24) months from their imposition following which they will be expunged.
India’s Virat Kohli, talks to Australia’s Sam Konstas, second left, as Australia’s Usman Khawaja, right, looks on during play on the first day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia. (AP)In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Virat Kohli’s disciplinary record since it was his first offence in a 24-month period.
The ICC said that Virat Kohli admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing.
India’s Virat Kohli, talks to Australia’s Sam Konstas (second left) as Usman Khawaja (right) looks on during the first day of the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. (AP Photo)
Sam Konstas himself shrugged off the incident later after the end of day’s play when he was asked about it on two occasions.
Watch: Virat Kohli barges into Sam Konstas
Kohli and Konstas come together and make contact 👀#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/adb09clEqd
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 26, 2024
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Sam Konstas was asked by Channel 7: “Virat Kohli is your favourite player in the world and all of a sudden you are in the thick of battle out there, he throws a little shoulder. What was being said out there?”
To this Sam Konstas said: “I think the emotions got to both of us. I didn’t quite realise, I was doing my gloves. And then a little shoulder charge. But it happens, it’s cricket.”
Later at an interaction with media, Konstas again downplayed the incident. “I was doing my gloves and I think he accidentally bumped into me. That’s cricket. Happens.”
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