NEW DELHI: Star Indian batter Virat Kohli on Thursday avoided a ban following his physical on-field altercation with Australian debutant Sam Konstas during the opening day of the fourth Test in Melbourne.
The incident took place at the end of the 10th over when Kohli bumped shoulder with Konstas at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The collision quickly escalated into a heated exchange between the two players. Australian opener Usman Khawaja and umpire Michael Gough intervened, stepping in to mediate and diffuse the situation.
The International Cricket Council (ICC), subsequently, fined Kohli 20 percent of his match fee and awarded one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct.
“The Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct relates to inappropriate physical contact with a player, player support personnel, umpire, match referee or any other person (including a spectator during an international match,” the ICC said in a statement.
“No formal hearing was needed as Kohli accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft,” it added.
Despite Kohli escaping a ban, the ICC’s decision has sparked widespread debate, particularly among former Australian cricketers and fans. Many have voiced their displeasure, arguing that the physical altercation warranted stricter action to maintain discipline on the field.
The growing clamour suggests that a significant section of the cricketing community believes Kohli’s actions crossed a line, with calls for consistency in enforcing the ICC’s Code of Conduct.
The incident has reignited discussions about the treatment of high-profile players and the need for impartiality in disciplinary verdicts.
To understand why Kohli was not suspended following his altercation with Konstas, it is essential to examine Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct. This provision deals with “inappropriate physical contact with a player,” categorising such offences as Level 1 or Level 2 breaches depending on the intent and severity.
A breach of Article 2.12, can be differentiated into four levels of offence and the following factors are taken into account when assessing the seriousness of the breach: “(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.”
According to ICC Code of Conduct, when a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned but in case of Kohli this is the first demerit point that he has logged since 2019.
Had Kohli made physical contact with an umpire or match referee, it would have been classified as a Level 3 or 4 offence under the ICC Code of Conduct, warranting much harsher penalties, including a possible ban.
However, since the altercation involved Australian debutant Konstas and lacked any indication of deliberate aggression, Kohli’s actions were considered a Level 1 or 2 offence and that is why he escaped a stricter punishment. Hence, he received just one demerit point.
Konstas, who enjoyed a stellar Test debut with a flamboyant knock of 60 off 65 balls, including six fours and two sixes, addressed the incident during the post-day press conference. The 19-year-old downplayed its significance, saying, “I was just doing my gloves, and I think he accidentally bumped me.”
“I think that is just cricket, just the tension. For me, it’s about having that freedom, backing myself, and trying to bring out the best version of me. I was lucky enough to get a few runs today,” he added.
