MELBOURNE: Virat Kohli and Australian youngster Sam Konstas were involved in a physical altercation on Thursday, resulting in the Indian superstar being fined 20 per cent of his match fee and handed a demerit point. The incident, however, was played down as an accidental bump by the 19-year-old debutant.
The brief confrontation occurred after the 10th over of the Australian innings on the opening day of the fourth Test when the players were crossing paths. Kohli and Konstas bumped shoulders while walking across the pitch in an exchange initiated by the Indian cricketer.
Kohli was subsequently charged with breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct by on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, and fourth umpire Shawn Craig.
Accepting the sanctions proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft, Kohli avoided a formal hearing.
"Virat Kohli has been fined 20 percent of his match fee and awarded one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct," the ICC said in a statement.
"No formal hearing was needed as Kohli accepted the sanctions proposed by Match Referee Andy Pycroft," it added.
After the physical contact, both players turned around to exchange heated words before Konstas’ teammate Usman Khawaja stepped in to separate them. The on-field umpires also intervened, and the matter cooled down quickly.
Speaking to reporters after stumps, Konstas said Kohli bumped into him, but it was not intentional.
"I was just doing my gloves, and I think he accidentally bumped me. I think that's just cricket and can happen with tension," said the teenager.
"I think the emotions got to both of us," Konstas told 'Channel 7' during the second session.
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".
Kohli’s match fee for the game, initially set at Rs 15 lakh, will now be reduced to Rs 12 lakh due to the fine. This is the first demerit point Kohli has received since 2019. Four demerit points within two years lead to a suspension of one Test match.
Konstas, who was batting on 27 at the time of the incident, responded with aggression, hitting Jasprit Bumrah for two boundaries and a six in the next over. The debutant scored a remarkable fifty before being dismissed leg-before-wicket by Ravindra Jadeja.
India's assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, who addressed the media at the end-of-day press conference, downplayed the incident.
"When you play a game, there will be emotions, but it is not as big as it seems. I wasn't aware of what happened and don't know what was said," Nayar responded when queried about the altercation.
Kohli criticised for his actions
While Konstas brushed aside the altercation, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting criticised Kohli, blaming him for instigating the confrontation.
"Have a look where Virat walks. Virat's walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever," Ponting said on 'Channel 7' while reviewing the footage.
"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.
"It looked to me that Konstas looked up late, and wouldn't even know anyone is in front of him. That man on-screen there (Kohli) might have a few questions to answer," Ponting added.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri, who worked closely with Kohli during his captaincy, also criticised the incident, calling it unnecessary.
"There is a line, and you don't want to overstep that line. That's unnecessary, totally unnecessary. You don't want to see that. You know Virat is a senior player; he has been captain of the side," Shastri told 'Fox Sports'.
"He will have his own explanations for this, but it's something you don't want to see. One person who would be watching, his eyes locked into the proceedings, is Andy Pycroft," Shastri added.