No Ban, But Kohli Fined 20% Match Fee For ‘Shouldering’ Australian Debutant Konstas On 1st Day Of Boxing Day Test

Melbourne: Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli was fined 20 percent of his match fee for his altercation with Sam Konstas in India’s fourth Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).  On the first morning of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG on Thursday, December 26, against Australia, Kohli gave a shoulder charge to Australian debutant Sam Konstas.

Virat Kohli’s meeting with match referee Andy Pycroft lasted just 10 minutes, reported the India Today. The former India captain accepted the breach of the International Cricket Council code of conduct. He was reportedly charged with a Level 1 offence, the mildest sanction for physical contact on the field. Earlier in the day, there were speculations that Kohli may face one match ban for his conduct, which drew criticism from former cricketers as well.

What happened on the field?

Australia had opted to bat first and took the game head-on, led by the 19-year-old Sam Konstas. Whether with words or the bat, the Australian debutant didn’t shy away from having a go at the Indians. When Konstas ramped Jasprit Bumrah for boundaries over the third man, he also got engaged in a heated altercation with Kohli. From the replays, it appeared that Kohli changed his path while returning to his fielding position and shouldered Konstas. This happened between the 10th and 11th over of the Australian innings. After this physical contact, the two got engaged in a verbal altercation. Usman Khawaja and the on-field umpire Michael Gough had to intervene.

Know the norms

Kohli’s conduct was inappropriate, and it could have attracted more fine and demerit points. His action fall under the breach of ICC’s Code of Conduct. According to the MCC Laws of Cricket 42.3.1, “making inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with another player” comes under a Level 2 offence. According to the norms, Level 2 offence can attract 50-100% fine or one Suspension Point and three demerit points or 100 per cent fine and four demerit points equating to two suspension points.

‘It doesn’t make you smaller if you move away’

Meanhwile, Kohli’s conduct has drawn criticism from former cricketers, including Sunil Gavaskar. “Really, this can be avoidable. I mean, it’s like you are walking in a busy pedestrian street, and you see somebody coming at you, you just sway away. There’s nothing; it doesn’t make you smaller if you move away. That’s the thing. And you don’t want to see these things on the field. Definitely not,” Gavaskar said during lunch break.

“My first instinct, looking at it without seeing the replays, was that both were looking down, so they didn’t see each other coming. Konstas was looking at his bat; Kohli had the ball in his hand, and he was doing something. But with that footage, we’ll see who gets fined more this evening,” he added.