If deemed a Level Two offence, the player involved could face three to four demerit points, with four points resulting in a suspension from the Sydney Test starting on January 3
GUWAHATI: Virat Kohli and 19-year-old Australian batter Sam Konstas had a terse exchange on Thursday, December 26, when the former shoulder-bumped the latter while switching sides. The incident took place during the first day of the fourth Test between India and Australia in Melbourne.
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As it occurred after the conclusion of the tenth over, both players got involved into an exchange of words, prompting intervention from Usman Khawaja and the on-field umpire to diffuse the situation. The confrontation quickly went viral on social media, with many fans criticising Kohli’s behaviour as unwarranted.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting placed the blame squarely on Kohli. "Virat walked a whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever. Fielders should be nowhere near the batsman at that stage," he remarked.
Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri also disapproved of Kohli’s actions, as he termed the behaviour “absolutely unnecessary” and speculated that the match referee would examine the incident closely.
The ICC Code of Conduct explicitly prohibits inappropriate physical contact in cricket, stating that players will breach regulations if they “deliberately, recklessly and/or negligently walk or run into or shoulder another player or umpire.”
If deemed a Level Two offence, the player involved could face three to four demerit points, with four points resulting in a suspension from the Sydney Test starting on January 3. A Level One offence, however, would only result in a match fee deduction.
A review of the incident by the match referee Pycroft could determine its classification under the ICC’s disciplinary levels.