Virat Kohli has reportedly been fined for his shoulder-barging Sam Konstas during day one of the ongoing 4th Test in the BGT 2024 between Australia and India in Melbourne. Pat Cummins won the toss and had Australia batting first.
Sam Konstas, 19, on his debut, rattled the Indian bowling unit, hitting Jasprit Bumrah for 3 boundaries in an over including one reverse scoop six. Later, Mohammed Siraj got into an altercation with the teenager.
The incident between Kohli and Konstas happened amidst change after the 10th over. In front of the MCG crowd of 90,000, Kohli was observed shoulder-nudging the maiden Australian opener. The players engaged in a conversation as Usman Khawaja, the other opener, attempted to defuse the situation.
And now Kohli has faced the punishment for his actions as he has been fined 20% of his match fee and awarded one demerit point. Relevant here is another set of rules in ICC's Code of Conduct (CoC).
Article 2.12 of CoC reads: "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.
When assessing the seriousness of the breach, the following factors (without limitation) shall be taken into account: (i) the context of the particular situation, including, without limitation, whether the contact was deliberate (i.e. intentional), reckless, negligent, and/or avoidable; (ii) the force of the contact; (iii) any resulting injury to the person with whom contact was made; and (iv) the person with whom contact was made."
Ricky Ponting had asked for Kohli to be sanctioned during commentary for his physically contacting Sam Konstas.
"Virat walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever. I have no doubt that the umpires and the referee will have a good look at that. Fielders should be nowhere near the batsman at that stage. Every fieldsman on the ground knows where the batsmen will congregate and get together. It looked to me that Konstas looked up really late, and wouldn't even know anyone was in front of him. That man on-screen there (Kohli) might have a few questions to answer," Ponting was quoted in Channel Seven.
(Cricbuzz inputs)
