The ICC imposed a penalty on Indian cricket star Virat Kohli for a shoulder-bump incident with Australian debutant Sam Konstas during the first day of the 4th Test that started in Melbourne on Thursday.
Kohli has been fined 20% of his match fee, and one demerit point has been added to his disciplinary record.
The incident occurred after the 10th over of the Australian innings when Kohli and Konstas collided while passing each other. An irritated Konstas confronted Kohli, prompting intervention from Usman Khawaja and the on-field umpire.
At the time of the collision, Konstas was on 27 runs and went on to hit two fours and a six in the subsequent over bowled by Jasprit Bumrah. According to the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, the incident is classified under Law 2.12, which addresses “Inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee, or any other individual (including a spectator) during an International Match.”
Konstas made an impressive start to his Test career with a standout half-century, scoring 60 runs off 65 balls, including six fours and two sixes. At stumps on the opening day, Australia had reached 311/6 in 86 overs, with half-centuries from Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Sam Konstas, and Usman Khawaja.