Virat Kohli Penalized for Shoulder Bump Incident with Australian Debutant at MCG

Indian cricket star Virat Kohli has been fined 20% of his match fee and handed one demerit point after a shoulder bump incident involving Australian debutant Sam Konstas during the first session of play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday morning.

The confrontation occurred after the 10th over of Day One, where Kohli was seen deliberately moving across the pitch and shoulder-bumping Konstas. The incident sparked immediate reactions, with Australian opener Usman Khawaja stepping in to diffuse the situation in front of a 90,000-strong crowd.

Cricket, traditionally a non-contact sport, strictly prohibits such behavior under the ICC's Code of Conduct (CoC). Article 2.12 of the CoC explicitly states that “any form of inappropriate physical contact” is a breach of the rules, considering factors like intent, force, and potential injuries in determining the seriousness of the violation.

The act drew sharp criticism from cricketing legends. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, commenting on Channel Seven, expressed his disapproval. "Virat walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever. Fielders should be nowhere near the batsman at that stage. Konstas wouldn’t even have seen him coming."

Even Ravi Shastri, India’s former head coach, remarked on the impropriety of the act. “There is a line, and you don’t want to overstep that line,” Shastri said.

Kohli’s actions have reignited debates around player conduct and sportsmanship in cricket, with many emphasizing the need for players to uphold the spirit of the game.