Indian cricket star Virat Kohli was fined 20% of his match fee for a physical altercation with Australian debutant Sam Konstas on the first day of the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
What happened?
The incident occurred early in Australia’s innings when Kohli, known for his competitive spirit, shoulder-bumped Konstas as they crossed paths on the pitch. This confrontation unfolded after the 10th over, with Kohli seemingly veering from his path to engage with the young Australian opener, who was making his Test debut and had already shown promise with a quickfire 60 runs before the lunch break.
How did ICC see the issue?
The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that Kohli admitted to the offense and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft. The charge was categorized as a Level 1 offense under the ICC Code of Conduct for ‘inappropriate physical contact.’
This resulted in a fine of 20% of his match fee and one demerit point added to his disciplinary record, avoiding a more severe penalty like a suspension.
Reactions
The incident has sparked varied reactions across the cricket community. While some saw it as a moment of high tension typical in Test cricket, others viewed Kohli’s actions as unbecoming of a senior player, particularly towards a young debutant.
Former players and commentators have weighed in on the matter.
Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting criticized Kohli for instigating the confrontation, pointing out that Kohli deliberately changed his path to bump into Konstas. On the other hand, Konstas played down the incident, suggesting that such clashes can happen under the tension of a Test match.
This isn’t the first time Kohli has faced disciplinary action. During India’s 2012 tour of Australia, he was fined for an obscene gesture towards fans.
The match saw Australia in a strong position, thanks partly to Konstas’s performance. Yet, the day was marred by this incident, bringing an element of controversy to an otherwise competitive cricketing encounter.