Melbourne: Virat Kohli has been fined 20% of his match fee and awarded a demerit point following a controversial shoulder bump with Australian debutant Sam Konstas during the Boxing Day Test at the MCG on Thursday morning.

As cricket is a non-contact sport, the ICC enforces strict rules to prevent physical altercations on the field. The ICC Code of Conduct (CoC), specifically Article 2.12, clearly outlines the prohibition of inappropriate physical contact. It states:

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"Any form of inappropriate physical contact is prohibited in cricket. Players will be deemed to have breached this regulation if they deliberately, recklessly, or negligently walk, run into, or shoulder another player or umpire."

Drama on Day 1

The incident occurred when Kohli and Konstas walked into each other and exchanged words. Australia’s opener Usman Khawaja intervened, placing an arm around the Indian star to diffuse tensions. Umpire Michael Gough also stepped in to act as a mediator.

The matter was reviewed by match referee Andy Pycroft, who upheld the penalty against Kohli in accordance with the CoC.

Konstas Shines on Debut

Despite the incident, Sam Konstas made a memorable debut for Australia, scoring a fluent 60 off 65 balls. His innings included six fours and two sixes, showcasing fearless intent against a strong Indian bowling attack. However, his knock ended in the 20th over when Ravindra Jadeja trapped him.

Crucial Boxing Day Test

With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series tied at 1-1, the Boxing Day Test holds immense significance as both teams aim to take the lead and strengthen their chances of securing a spot in the ICC World Test Championship final.

Playing XIs

Australia: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (WK), Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.

(ANI)