Virat Kohli Fined 20% of Match Fee for Shoulder Barge Incident During Fourth Test Against Australia

Islamabad:Indian cricket star, Virat Kohli, has been fined 20% of his match fee for deliberately barging into Australian debutant Sam Constas during the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) against Australia. The incident occurred during the first session of the match on Thursday, December 26, when Kohli intentionally shoulder-barged Constas, an action captured by cameras.

Following the heavy fine, Kohli met with match referee Andy Pycroft for a 10-minute discussion. During this meeting, the former Indian captain acknowledged that he had violated the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Code of Conduct.

After Kohli’s admission of guilt, the charge was classified as a Level 1 offense, which is the least severe penalty for on-field altercations.

The incident, which saw Kohli deliberately make contact with the Australian debutant, has led to significant scrutiny. However, given the nature of the charge, the punishment imposed is considered the lightest available under the ICC’s disciplinary system for physical confrontations on the field.

This is the second time Kohli has been involved in a disciplinary issue in recent years, though it is a reminder of the sometimes volatile nature of high-stakes international cricket.