Virat Kohli fined 50 percent of his match fees for outburst against on-field umpires in KKR vs RCB IPL 2024 clash
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ace batter Virat Kohli has been fined 50 percent of his match fees for violating the Indian Premier League's (IPL) code of conduct during the recent clash against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The ace player lashed out at the umpires at Eden Gardens following a controversial dismissal during Sunday's contest.
Kohli was unbeaten on 18 runs of six deliveries while chasing a mammoth 223-run target by the home side. He was caught and bowled by Harshit Rana in the third over of the run chase, but there was confusion surrounding the dismissal as the delivery appeared to be a very high full toss.
The on-field umpires handed the decision over to third umpire Michael Gough. After careful examination of the replays as well as the new technology in place which takes the ball's trajectory until the popping crease as well as the batter's height, Kohli was adjudged out.
Virat Kohli was livid with the decision and argued with on-field umpires for quite a while before smashing a dustbin on his way to the pavilion too. He was later reprimanded for his actions.
"Mr Virat Kohli, Batter, Royal Challengers Bengaluru has been fined 50 per cent of his match fees for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during Match 36 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on April 21, 2024," the official release by IPL read.
"Kohli committed a Level 1 offence under Article 2.8 of the IPL's Code of Conduct. He admitted to the offence and accepted the Match Referee’s sanction. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee's decision is final and binding," the statement continued.
To make matters worse for RCB, skipper Faf du Plessis also incurred an ₹12 Lakh fine for maintaining a slow over-rate during the encounter.
Virat Kohli committed offences during the 2023 season as well
Virat Kohli is no stranger to breaching the code of conduct as his behavior has resulted in similar offences in the past as well. During the 2023 season contest against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Kohli was handed a 10 percent fine for 'aggressive behavior'.
He was also fined for his on-field tussle with LSG pacer Naveen-ul-Haq and the ensuing fallout with then Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mentor Gautam Gambhir. On that particular occasion, he was handed a 100 percent fine of his match fees, with former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar suggesting a suspension for Kohli.