Virat Kohli Fined and Penalized by ICC for Boxing Day Test Altercation

Virat Kohli has been fined 20% of his match fee and received one demerit point from the International Cricket Council (ICC) due to an incident involving Australian debutant Sam Konstas during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. The altercation occurred at the end of the 10th over when Kohli made inappropriate physical contact with Konstas, resulting in a shoulder bump that led to a heated exchange between the players.

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The ICC classified this incident as a Level 1 breach of its Code of Conduct, specifically under Article 2.12, which addresses inappropriate physical contact with players or other individuals during a match. Kohli admitted to the offense and accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft, which negated the need for a formal hearing

Notably, reactions to the penalty have been mixed. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting criticized the ICC for what he deemed a lenient punishment, suggesting that it did not adequately reflect the seriousness of the incident, especially given Kohli’s status as a high-profile player and role model. Other commentators, describing the fine as merely a “slap on the wrist” and arguing that stricter measures should be applied to maintain discipline in cricket

While Kohli’s actions have drawn significant attention and debate regarding player conduct, he remains eligible to play in upcoming matches without further sanctions beyond this fine and demerit point.