Kohli, 36, made the body contact while passing Konstas in the middle and the duo exchanged words, which needed intervention from one of the umpires
Former India captain and one of the poster boys of International cricket Virat Kohli was penalised for shoulder-bumping Aussie debutant Sam Konstas at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) early Thursday (December 26, 2024) morning. (Day 1 Blog | Full Coverage | More Cricket News)
The incident happened during the change-over after the end of the 10th over, Mohammed Siraj's fifth on the trot, on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India, two sides still in contention for the ICC World Test Championship final.
Kohli, 36, made the body contact while passing Konstas in the middle and the duo exchanged words, which needed intervention from one of the umpires. Kohli's act became a massive talking even as the young Aussie batter took the famed Indian bowling attack led by Jasptri Bumrah to the cleaners.
Aussie great Ricky Ponting called for sanctions against the Indian batter. Ravi Shastri, who was once at the helm during Kohli's reign as the India captain, termed the act unnecessary. "There is a line and you don't want to overstep that line," Shastri said.
"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, Ponting said on air.
"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 added.
Cricket is not a contact sport and there are rules for body nudging in the game.
The relevant here is ICC's Code of Conduct (CoC), article 2.12 of CoC, which 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."
Cricket, of course, is not a contact sport.
According to reports, Virat Kohli has been fined 20% of his match fee and awarded one demerit point. A Level 1 offence carries a match fee fine, while Level 2 has a penalty of three to four demerit points. Four demerit points would lead to a suspension of one Test.
Later, the ICC released a statement saying "No formal hearing was needed as Kohli accepted the sanctions propsed 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."
Konstas, with a fidgety stand, faced the new ball from Bumrah, arguably the best in the business in contemporary cricket. The right-handed batter with his usual bat grip was beaten six times in the first over itself.
But he soon took charge of the proceedings, to the amusement of the packed MCG crowd. The teen sensation then raced to a half-century in an almost run-a-ball strike rate. During his 65-ball 60, he hit Bumrah for multiple boundaries including a few from reverse shots.
Konstas was eventually trapped in front by Ravindra Jadeja in the 20th over and left without taking the review. Replays showed the ball clipping the top of the leg stump, an umpire's call.
"Virat Kohli accidentally bumped into me, that's cricket and can happen with tension," he said after the day's play. "I think the emotions got to both of us.
Australia were 311/6 in 86 overs at the close of play with Steven Smith and skipper Pat Cummins unbeaten on 68 off 111 and 8 off 17, respectively.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, a five Tests affair, is currently locked at 1-1. The fifth and final Test in Sydney is scheduled to start on January 3, 2025.