Out vs India, BGT – Virat Kohli fined 20% of match fees after altercation with Sam Konstas

Out vs India, BGT – Virat Kohli fined 20% of match fees after altercation with Sam Konstas

Virat Kohli was fined 20% of his match fees and given a demerit point after his heated argument with 19-year-old Australian debutant Sam Konstas during the fourth Test at the MCG. The incident occurred after the tenth over of the morning when Kohli and Konstas bumped shoulders while moving across the pitch between overs.

Both players were immediately in for a heated exchange before Konstas’ opening partner Usman Khawaja and referee Michael Gough interrupted to end the altercation.

Kohli was penalized for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which refers to “inappropriate physical contact with a player, player support staff, umpire, match referee or any other person (including a spectator during an international match)”. No formal hearing was required as Kohli accepted the sanctions.

Replays that emerged later in the session showed that after the last ball of the tenth over, Konstas had turned from the crease and was heading straight towards the other end while looking at his gloves, while Kohli – while holding the ball in his hand threw – looked straight ahead, walked straight towards Konstas from far outside the field and collided with him.

“I think the emotions got to both of us,” Konstas said later Channel 7 in the second session. “I didn’t quite notice; I did my gloves, then there was a little shoulder attack. But that’s what happens in cricket.”

“Look where Virat is going,” remarked former Australia captain Ricky Ponting in a commentary for Channel 7 as I watch the replay of the incident. “Virat went a whole pitch to the right and started this confrontation. In my opinion there is no doubt at all.”

Speaking to Star Sports at the end of the day, former India coach Ravi Shastri said that Kohli’s act was “unnecessary”.

“If you see that, it’s not necessary at this moment,” he said. “I think Virat will realize later that with the stature he has in this game, he captained the team for many, many years. Things happen in the heat of the moment. But when I think about it, I would say it was unnecessary. You.” I don’t want to see things like that. There is a limit that you don’t want to cross.

Konstas made his Test debut with a stunning half-century off just 52 balls, taking on Jasprit Bumrah, the best bowler in the series, who had dismissed Nathan McSweeney four times in six innings in the first three Tests. Konstas replaced McSweeney for this Test and, after several defeats, struggled to 5 for 21 before moving to 27 for 38 at the time of the clash with Kohli.

By this point, Konstas had brought Bumrah over the slips with a reverse scoop for a six, which was followed by a straighter scoop that gave him four runs after he moved and flicked the ball over the wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.

Konstas finished the game with 60 off 65 balls, six fours and two sixes, while scoring 34 off 33 against Bumrah and 20 off 19 against Mohammed Siraj.

The Tests between India and Australia were very intense and were known to lead to such clashes and controversies, especially surrounding Kohli. While captain, he once got into an altercation with opposing captain Tim Paine in 2018-19 and had a duel with Mitchell Johnson, while he scored a stunning century in Adelaide in 2014.

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