Melbourne, Dec 26 (PTI) Virat Kohli and Australian youngster Sam Konstas were on Thursday involved in a physical altercation because of which the Indian superstar was fined 20 per cent of his match fee and handed a demerit point even though it was played down as an accidental bump by the 19-year-old debutant.
The brief showdown took place after the 10th over of the Australian innings on the opening day of the fourth Test here when the players were crossing over. Kohli and Konstas bumped shoulders while moving across the pitch in a showdown that was initiated by the travelling star.
Kohli was eventually charged with breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct by on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Shawn Craig.
He accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft at the end of day’s play.
“Virat Kohli has been fined 20 percent of his match fee and awarded one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct,” the ICC said in a statement.
“No formal hearing was needed as Kohli accepted the sanctions propsed by Match Referee Andy Pycroft,” it added.
After the physical contact, both players quickly turned around to glance at each other and engage in a heated exchange of words before Konstas’ teammate Usman Khawaja stepped in to separate them. The on-field umpires also had a word with the two and things cooled down rather quickly.
Speaking to reporters after stumps, Konstas said Kohli bumped into him but it wasn’t deliberate.
“I was just doing my gloves and I think he accidentally bumped me. I think that’s just cricket and can happen with tension,” said the teenager.
“I think the emotions got to both of us,” Konstas had told ‘Channel 7’ during the second session.
The ICC’s Code of Conduct states that “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”.
Konstas, who was batting on 27 at the time, went on to hit Jasprit Bumrah for two boundaries and a six in the next over.
The teenager scored a stunning fifty on debut before Ravindra Jadeja trapped him leg before wicket.
India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, who addressed the media in the end-of-day press conference, also brushed aside the incident as nothing big.
“When you play a game, there will be emotions but it is not as big as it seems. I wasn’t aware of what happened and don’t know what was said,” he said in response to queries.
Kohli criticised for his actions
Konstas might have dismissed it as routine but former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting blamed Kohli for instigating the exchange. He went to the extent of saying that Kohli could face disciplinary action for it.
“Have a look where Virat walks. Virat’s walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever,” Ponting said on Channel 7 while watching the replay of the incident.
“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.
“It looked to me that Konstas looked up really late, wouldn’t even know anyone is in front of him. That man on-screen there (Kohli) might have a few questions to answer,” Ponting added.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri, who was at the helm during Kohli’s captaincy, said the run-in was unnecessary.
“There is a line and you don’t want to overstep that line. That’s unnecessary, totally unnecessary. You don’t want to see that. You know Virat is a senior player, he has been captain of the side,” he said on ‘Fox Sports’.
“He will have his own explanations for this but it’s something you don’t want to see. One person who would be watching, his eyes locked into the proceedings is Andy Pycroft,” he added. PTI
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Federal staff and is auto-published from a syndicated feed.)
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