New Delhi: Team India’s star batter Virat Kohli escaped a ban for shoulder-bumping Australian opener Sam Konstas in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday, December 26. As per the Cricbuzz report, he was fined 20 percent of his match fee and handed one demerit point. Kohli was seen shouldering the 19-year-old in the morning session of the opening day’s play
Kohli and Konstas crossed each other near the pitch after the end of the 10th over which led to a deliberate shoulder bump. Both cricketers exchanged a few words in front of a 90,000-strong MCG crowd before Usman Khawaja stepped in to cool things down.
Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas exchanged a heated moment on the MCG. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/QL13nZ9IGI
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2024
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is yet to issue an official statement on the incident. As per the ICC’s Code of Conduct, Article 2.12 reads “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”.
‘That was totally unnecessary’: Ravi Shastri on Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas shoulder barge incident
Former India coach Ravi Shastri was unhappy with Virat Kohli after the incident and said that it was unnecessary. He further added that Virat is a senior player and he’s been the captain of the Indian cricket team. Shastri also said that Virat will have his own explanations on that incident.
Australia were 311/6 at stumps on day 1 in the Boxing Day Test match at the MCG. Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja stitched an 89-run partnership for the first wicket. Jadeja dismissed Konstas on 60 runs. Usman Khawaja scored his fifty but Bumrah removed him on 57 runs. Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne forged an 83-run partnership for the third wicket. The hosts lost three big wickets in quick succession as Sundar removed Labuschagne on 72 runs while Bumrah also dismissed Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh cheaply.
Akash Deep dismissed Alex Carey on 31 runs and took his first wicket of the game. Steve Smith (68*) and Pat Cummins (8*) remained unbeaten at stumps on Day 1.
India’s star Virat Kohli has been fined 20 percent of his match fees for shouldering Australian opener Sam Konstas on Day 1 of the Melbourne Test. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
