India’s Virat Kohli, right, talks to Australia’s Sam Konstas, second left, as Australia’s Usman Khawaja, looks on during play on the first day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia. (AP)
It looked bad. Virat Kohli, a former captain, cut across from his initial position on the leg side of play, with the ball in his hand, walked beside the pitch where Sam Konstas was returning back from the other end. And the shoulder barge happened. Konstas and Kohli would exchange words, before Usman Khawaja came in with a smile and put a hand over Kohli’s shoulders.
Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas exchanged a heated moment on the MCG. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/QL13nZ9IGI
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2024
But what does the law say?
It comes under Law 2.12: Inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match.
And it continues, thus: “ Note: 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. Level 1 ✓ (Level 1 is available only in the case of contact with Players, Player Support …”
It will come down the interpretation of the match referee Andy Pycroft, former Zimbabwean player. If Pycroft deems the Konstas-Kohli contact to be a Level Two offence against either player, that player would receive three or four demerit points.
Four points can trigger a suspension for the next Test match in Sydney. A Level One offence would only result in some sort of a match fee fine.
Has Kohli done it before?
Kohli received a demerit point for making shoulder contact with South Africa’s Beuran Hendricks during a T20I in Bengaluru in 2019. Kohli admitted to the offense and accepted the sanction from the match referee.
When do players get suspended?
Players are banned from cricket if they accumulate four or more demerit points within a 24-month period.
What have former cricketers said?
Ricky Ponting said on air that Kohli was the one who instigated contact with Konstas between overs . “Virat walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation,” Ponting said on Channel Seven. “No doubt in my mind whatsoever.
“I have no doubt that the umpires and the referee will have a good look at that. Fielders should be nowhere near the batsman at that stage. Every fieldsman on the ground knows where the batsmen will congregate and get together.
“”It looked to me that Konstas looked up really late, and wouldn’t even know anyone was in front of him. That man on-screen there (Kohli) might have a few questions to answer,” Ponting said.
What’s Pycroft’s history with Indians?
In March 2023, Pycroft had queried Ravindra Jadeja over a bizarre incident related to the ball. Footage showed Jadeja whipping off some cream from the back of Siraj’s hand and rubbing it on his left index finger. Jadeja and team management told Pycroft that it was pain-relief cream. And no charges were laid.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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