Virat Kohli has been fined 20% of his match fee and received one demerit point following an incident during the ongoing Test match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The fine was imposed due to Kohli’s shoulder bump against Australian debutant Sam Konstas, which occurred after the 10th over of Day One. This action was deemed inappropriate as cricket regulations prohibit any form of physical contact that is deliberate, reckless, or negligent.
The incident drew significant attention, with former cricketers like Ricky Ponting criticizing Kohli’s actions and calling for sanctions. Ponting noted that Kohli’s movement towards Konstas seemed intentional and unnecessary, suggesting that it could have escalated the situation further.
Additionally, former India coach Ravi Shastri commented on the need for players to maintain professionalism and avoid crossing certain lines on the field.
Incident Overview
On the first day of the Test, Kohli appeared to intentionally make physical contact with Konstas while the latter was adjusting his gloves. This occurred during the transition between the 10th and 11th overs of Australia’s innings, as Kohli walked towards Konstas and seemingly shoulder-bumped him. Commentators, including former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, noted that Kohli’s actions seemed deliberate, suggesting he aimed to unsettle the young batter, who was performing well at the time.
