India vs Australia Boxing Day Test in Melbourne: Border-Gavaskar Trophy fourth Test day 1: ICC hands Virat Kohli 20% fine on match fee and one demerit point

Umpire Michael Gough speaks with Virat Kohli and Australia’s Sam Konstas of Australia on day 1 of the fourth Test in Melbourne on December 26, 2024.
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Virat Kohli was fined 20% of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct on the first day of the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on Thursday (December 26, 2024).

The former Indian captain had cut across the pitch and brushed his shoulder against Australian debutant Sam Konstas in the morning. The youngster reacted and Usman Khawaja stepped in as the mediator.

According to an ICC press-release, “Kohli was found to have breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to inappropriate physical contact with a player.” The statement also added: “One demerit point has been added to Kohli’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.”

After ‘on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Shawn Craig levelled the charge,’ the ICC further elaborated: “Kohli admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft, the match referee.”