Virat Kohli fined 20 percent of match fees in BGT 2024-25 4th Test: Reports
Team India ace batter Virat Kohli has been reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for his shoulder barge with Sam Konstas on Day 1 (Thursday, December 26) of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). He has reportedly been fined 20 percent of his match fees for his behavior during the first session of play.
After the end of the 10th over of Australia's first innings, Kohli was seen colliding with Konstas while changing ends. The incident triggered a barrage of words from the debutant, with Kohli not shying away from a response. Veteran batter Usman Khawaja restored some peace to the heated proceedings by intervening, while on-field umpire Michael Gough also entered the fray to calm things down.
Kohli's actions were lambasted by fans and pundits alike over the course of the day's play. The misconduct was liable for a reprimand, according to the ICC guidelines, but the severity of the punishment was the only question that remained.
"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," Article 2.12 of ICC's Code of Conduct (CoC) reads (via Cricbuzz).
The former India skipper could have risked missing the upcoming fifth Test match against Australia in Sydney had he been hit with four demerit points for the incident. In the case of three demerit points, it would have resulted in a one-match suspension from a limited-overs contest.
However, according to a report by Cricbuzz after Stumps on Day 1, Kohli has been fined 20 percent of his match fees and been given one demerit point after admitting the offense to match referee Andy Pycroft.
He was hit with a demerit point and fined 25 percent of his match fees following a similar incident where he collided with South Africa's Beuran Hendricks during a T20I match in 2019.
Virat Kohli will be looking to respond with the bat on Day 2 at the MCG
The ace batter's form has slid off after his sublime ton in Perth and will be using the recent reprimand as fuel to claw his way back among the runs in the series.
Kohli had scores of 5 and 100* in the first Test, 7 and 11 in the second and a 3 in the third. He was coming off a poor home series against New Zealand where scored a paltry 93 runs in six innings at 15.50, inclusive of a score of 70.
India endured a testing first day in Melbourne as Australia finished at 311-6 after 86 overs to conclude the action on Boxing Day. The former India captain will be looking to make a difference with the bat and get back in some much-needed form.