Virat Kohli fined, handed demerit point for heated exchange with Sam Konstas on Day 1 of Boxing Day Test

The ongoing Test series between India and Australia has been anything but dull so far with individual and collective brilliance on display from both sides along with multiple clashes between players in the first three Tests of the five-match series. The latest of those clashes was between Indian batting star Virat Kohli and Australian debutant Sam Konstas on the opening day of the ‘Boxing Day Test’ in Melbourne on Thursday, which resulted in the former getting slapped with a fine of 20 per cent of his match fee along with one demerit point.

Kohli and Konstas, who got his international career off to a brilliant start with a knock of 60 at nearly run-a-ball (65 deliveries), had a clash of right shoulders at the end of the 10th over after Australia captain Pat Cummins opted to bat and the 19-year-old debutant was off to a promising start.

The two got into a heated exchange as a result of the incident, and the incident became a major talking point on social media with some netizens trolling the former India captain for picking on someone who’s nearly half his age. Kohli fans decided to retaliate by bombarding Konstas with expletives on social media.

Article 2.12 of ICC’s Code of Conduct prohibits “inappropriate physical contact” such as the one between Kohli and Konstas on Day 1 of the fourth Test, though the match referee will also have to take into account the context surrounding the incident before handing out punishment.

“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.

“When assessing the seriousness of the breach, the following factors (without limitation) shall be taken into account: (i) the context of the particular situation, including, without limitation, whether the contact was deliberate (i.e. intentional), reckless, negligent, and/or avoidable; (ii) the force of the contact; (iii) any resulting injury to the person with whom contact was made; and (iv) the person with whom contact was made,” reads the article.

According to an official release, no formal hearing was needed as Kohli accepted the sanction proposed by Match Referee Andy Pycroft after on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Shawn Craig levelled the charge against the former India captain.

The incident, though, appeared to have little effect on Konstas as he would end up smashing Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for 18 runs in the following over including two fours and a six. The New South Welshman would end up racing to his half-century on debut in just 52 deliveries.

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The remaining members of the Australian top-four – Usman Khawaja (57), Marnus Labuschagne (72) and Steven Smith (68 not out) – would also bring up half-centuries as Australia ended the day on 311/6 , putting themselves in a strong position to go past 400 for the second time in as many matches.

Bumrah was once again the pick of the Indian bowlers, finishing with 3/75 that included the wicket of the in-form Travis Head – who was castled for a seven-ball duck.