नवीनतम
Konstas incident: Kohli fined 20 per cent of match fee
MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Virat Kohli has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee, handed 1 demerit point for altercation with Sam Konstas on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia, at the MCG, Melbourne on Thursday (Dec 26). The incident took place during the opening session after India asked Australia to bat first, and debutant Konstas came out all guns blazing. He attacked from the word go, including taking on Jasprit Bumrah, and Kohli came towards him -- in between overs -- and shouldered the newcomer, receiving flak from the International Cricket Council (ICC) after end of the day's play.
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".
Speaking to reporters after Stumps on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test, Konstas said Kohli bumped into him and it wasn't deliberate.
"Virat Kohli accidentally bumped into me, that's 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.
"I didn't quite realise, I was doing my gloves, then a little shoulder charge, but it happens in cricket," he added.
Gavaskar, co-originator of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, discussed the incident during the lunch break broadcast, stating, "This was completely avoidable. It's like walking on a busy street, you just step aside. These incidents don’t belong on the cricket field, especially not from someone as experienced as Kohli."
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting also lashed out at Kohli for his action versus Konstas. "Virat walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever. 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. Every fieldsman on the ground knows where the batsmen will congregate and get together. It looked to me that Konstas looked up really late, and wouldn't even know anyone was in front of him. That man on-screen there (Kohli) might have a few questions to answer," Ponting was quoted in Channel Seven as saying by Fox.
Even Ravi Shastri, former India coach, slammed Kohli's act and termed it 'unnecessary' post the day's play. "There is a line and you don't want to overstep that line," Shastri stated on air.
