NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli‘s shoulder bump with Australian youngster Sam Konstas on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test on Thursday became a major talking point in cricketing circles, with the star Indian batter facing backlash from former players and experts.
The former India captain Kohli was fined 20 percent of his match fees and handed a demerit point for his conduct on the field.
The brief altercation occurred after the 10th over of Australia’s innings at the MCG when the players were switching ends. During the transition, Kohli and Konstas collided shoulders in an incident sparked by the visiting star.
Kohli was subsequently charged with a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct by the on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, and fourth umpire Shawn Craig.
Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct relates to: “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator during an International Match.”
The incident brought back memories of a similar clash between Kagiso Rabada and Steve Smith in 2018 in Port Elizabeth.
After dismissing Smith leg-before, Rabada celebrated exuberantly, shouting “yes, yes” in Smith’s direction. As Smith stood directly in Rabada’s path, their shoulders collided.
Rabada was subsequently banned for two Tests after being charged with a Level 2 ICC Code of Conduct offence for “deliberate physical contact with a player.”
He was fined 50% of his match fee and received three demerit points, which triggered an automatic two-match suspension due to his accumulation of eight demerit points within a 24-month period.
