Virat Kohli Penalized for Physical Altercation With Debutant Sam Konstas During Boxing Day Test
Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Melbourne, 26th December 2024: Virat Kohli was involved in a fiery altercation with debutant Sam Konstas on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Konstas impressed with a remarkable debut performance, scoring a quickfire fifty. The confrontation occurred in the 10th over when Kohli collided with Konstas’ shoulder, sparking a verbal exchange.
As a result, Kohli was penalized for violating the International Cricket Council Code of Conduct, incurring a 20 % fine on his match fees and receiving one demerit point. According to ICC regulations, players are strictly prohibited from engaging in physical contact during matches. The ICC’s Code of Conduct (Article 2.12) explicitly states that “any deliberate, reckless, or negligent physical contact, such as bumping or shoulder charging another player or umpire, is a violation.” Factors such as intent, force, avoidability, and resulting injury are considered when determining the severity of the breach.
Kohli’s behaviour drew widespread criticism from the cricket experts for intimidating the 19-year-old Konstas. Commenting on the incident, Ricky Ponting said, “Virat intentionally crossed the pitch to provoke that altercation. It was uncalled for. Fielders know where batsmen gather, and Konstas seemed unaware of Kohli’s presence until too late.”
Indian legends, including Sunil Gavaskar and Irfan Pathan, expressed their disapproval of Kohli’s actions toward the young debutant. While there are mixed reactions from Indian fans regarding the incident—some supporting Kohli by justifying that Australians are no different, others criticizing him for not upholding the spirit of the gentleman’s game.
