Why Virat Kohli was lucky to escape serious punishment in clash with Sam Konstas

Virat Kohli was on Thursday “fined 20 per cent of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct on the first day of the fourth Test against Australia in Melbourne on Thursday”.

The words in the quotes above are straight from the International Cricket Council (ICC) statement released after the end of Day 1 of the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Australia ended the day at 311/6.

The highlight of the day was Sam Konstas’s blistering 60 in which he took India pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah to task, hammering him for boundaries through ingenious ramp shots.

When Konstas was on 27 and Australia had overcome the first 10 overs in style, moving to 44 without loss, Virat Kohli barged into him.

Kohli walked diagonally, crossing one pitch, and made physical contact with the right-handed batsman who has in the past expressed his appreciation for the Indian batting maestro. 

Konstas was also walking a bit diagonally seemingly to ensure he doesn’t walk onto the pitch which can also invoke sanction.

To naked eye it appeared as if Kohli had made deliberate contact as he walked all the way to run into the 19-year-old Australia young batsman making debut.

In the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, clause 2.12 states penalty for the following: “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.”

This is what Kohli was held guilty for.

In the explanation of punishment, the clause says, “Level 1 and Level 2 is available only in the case of contact with Players, Player Support Personnel or any other person.

“Level 3 and 4 is available only in the case of contact with Umpires and Match Referees,” it adds.

It is clear that Kohli could attract only Level 1 and 2 as he ran into a player not the umpire or match referee.

Besides being fined 20 per cent of his match fees, Kohli was handed a demerit point.

Now, Level 1 and 2 offences can attract one to four demerit points. They also attract a simple warning or 0-25% fine as a minimum and two suspension points as the maximum.

According to the ICC statement issued on Thursday, “Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player.”

It is quite clear that the match referee Andy Pycroft, officiating in his 100th Test, took a very lenient view of Kohli’s offence by handing him a 20 per cent fine and one demerit point, a minimum, when he could have easily charged him with three or four demerit points and one or two suspension points, the last of which could have resulted in a ban.

In 2018, when South Africa pace bowler Kagiso Rabada had committed similar offence against Australia’s Steve Smith, he was charged with three suspension points and fined 50 per cent of the match fees.

The Australians have been very docile. Barring Ricky Ponting, who himself was a serial offender on discipline front in his times as a player, there was no voice from ex-cricketers expressing strong resentment over Kohli’s act.

Konstas himself played down the incident saying, “I think the emotions got to both of us… it happens in cricket.”

Commentator Kerry O’Keefe initially blamed Kohli for being arrogant during the incident but later apologised on air for using that word.

Tags : Virat Kohli, Sam Konstas, ICC, India vs Australia, Cricket, Melbourne, MCG