Melbourne, December 26, 2024 – A fiery incident unfolded during the fourth Test between India and Australia when Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli engaged in a heated altercation with Australian debutant Sam Konstas.
The incident occurred just before the 11th over, as Kohli aggressively approached the Aussie opener, resulting in a tense exchange of words. The confrontation required the intervention of Usman Khawaja, who stepped in to diffuse the situation.
As a consequence of the altercation, Kohli has been penalized 20% of his match fee and awarded one demerit point under the ICC Code of Conduct. The penalty was enforced under Article 2.12, which pertains 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 match officials, including on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, and fourth umpire Shawn Craig, jointly leveled the charge against Kohli. The star batter accepted the sanctions proposed by Match Referee Andy Pycroft, negating the need for a formal hearing.
The altercation has drawn widespread criticism from the cricketing fraternity. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, speaking on Channel Seven, strongly condemned Kohli’s behavior, stating, “Virat walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. There’s no doubt in my mind. Fielders should not be anywhere near the batsmen at that stage. It’s a clear breach of the game’s conduct.”
In the aftermath of the incident, Konstas addressed the matter during a mid-match break, acknowledging the emotional nature of the clash. “I think the emotions got to both of us. I was adjusting my gloves and didn’t realize much until there was a slight shoulder bump. It’s one of those moments that happen in cricket,” Konstas remarked.
While such incidents are not uncommon in the heat of competitive cricket, they underscore the need for maintaining decorum on the field. The ICC’s swift action serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the spirit of the game, regardless of the stakes involved.