Kohli Fined and Penalized for Shoulder Bump Incident with Konstas
Virat Kohli has been fined 20% of his match fee and handed one demerit point following an incident on Day One of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, where he shoulder-bumped Australian debutant Sam Konstas. The incident occurred after the 10th over, with Kohli seen nudging Konstas in front of a 90,000-strong crowd, leading to an exchange between the players. Usman Khawaja intervened to diffuse the situation, but it quickly became the talk of the match.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) stated that Kohli had breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to "inappropriate physical contact." The rule prohibits any form of unnecessary physical contact between players, and Kohli’s actions were deemed to have violated these guidelines. Article 2.12 specifically mentions the prohibition of any reckless, negligent, or intentional body contact during a match.
The umpires—Joel Wilson, Michael Gough, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, and Shawn Craig—along with match referee Andy Pycroft, charged Kohli after reviewing the incident. Kohli admitted to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, meaning no formal hearing was necessary.
Kohli’s actions sparked immediate criticism from former cricketers, with Ricky Ponting calling for sanctions, questioning Kohli’s intent, and criticizing the fielding position of the Indian player. "No doubt in my mind whatsoever," Ponting stated, emphasizing the deliberate nature of Kohli's actions. Former India coach Ravi Shastri also disapproved of Kohli’s behavior, calling it unnecessary and crossing a line.
As per the ICC's Code of Conduct, players accumulating four or more demerit points within 24 months face suspension. However, this is Kohli’s first offence in the last two years, and the demerit points will remain on his record for 24 months.
Brief Recap:
- Offence: Shoulder bumping Sam Konstas.
- Sanction: 20% fine and 1 demerit point.
- Regulation Breached: Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct.
- Reaction: Immediate outrage from fans and experts, including Ricky Ponting and Ravi Shastri.
