Virat Kohli’s shoulder bump incident with Sam Konstas put a heavy toll on Kohli, fined 20% of the match fee and awarded one demerit point.
Day 1 of the IND vs AUS Boxing Day Test saw the tussle between former Indian captain Virat Kohli and young Australian cricket prodigy Sam Konstas. Although the Border-Gavaskar trophy always turns out into something dramatic and fierce, but who thought it would lead to tension between the teams?
The accident between 19-year-old debutant Sam Konstas and Virat Kohli led to Kohli having a tough time in Australia right now. ICC has levied a fine of 20% of the match fee after the shoulder bumping incident with Konstas. Not only this but Kohli has been awarded one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct. Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct states, “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator during an International Match”.
The global cricketing body announced on Thursday, stating, “No formal hearing was needed as Kohli accepted the sanctions proposed by Match Referee Andy Pycroft. On-field umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Shawn Craig levelled the charge.”
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In the video surfing on the internet, it is clearly visible that Konstas had turned around from the crease after the last ball of the tenth over while Kohli went from outside the pitch and bumped his shoulder into Konstas’ while the debutant was wearing his gloves.
The physical bang between the duo led to an exchange of words between them before Konstas’ compatriot Australian opener Usman Khwaja and umpire Michael Gough conciliated to cool down things. The incident occurred between the 10th and 11th overs.
Ravi Shastri, who was commenting on the game, disapproved of Kohli’s act, and called it ‘unnecessary’. Shastri said on air, “There is a line and you don’t want to overstep that line.” Alongside Shastri, commenting on air was the former Australian captain Ricky Ponting. He held Kohli accountable for initiating Konstas. Ponting said, “Virat walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever.”
