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Virat Kohli vs Sam Konstas: What happened after the on-field controversy between both cricketers?

Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas were seen embroiled in a nasty conflict on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test which was seen as a 'physical altercation' by ICC and has resulted in the 20% deduction of the match fees of the Indian cricketer. 

Soumyaroop Mukherjee

New Delhi: Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas were seen embroiled in a nasty conflict on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test which was seen as a ‘physical altercation‘ and has resulted in the 20% deduction of the match fees of the Indian cricketer.

Although the incident was downplayed as an accidental bump by the 19-year-old debutant, the incident was dealt with by ICC strictly. The brief showdown took place after the 10th over of the Australian innings on the opening day of the fourth Test here when the players were crossing over.

The ICC code of conduct…

Kohli’s actions were deemed unnecessary and unfit to be displayed on a cricket field according to the ICC Code of Conduct which states that:

…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…

What has transpired so far?

Post the incident on the field, Kohli was slapped with a heavy fine for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct by on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough. He accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft at the end of the day’s play.


In a statement released by Virat, the ICC remarked:

Virat Kohli has been fined 20 percent of his match fee and awarded one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct…

Furthermore, the apex board of cricket said that no formal hearing was deemed necessary after Virat Kohli accepted his fault and the sanctions which would be levied on him by Match Referee Andy Pycroft.


After the physical contact, both players quickly turned around to glance at each other and engage in a heated exchange of words before Konstas’ teammate Usman Khawaja stepped in to separate them. The on-field umpires also had a word with the two and things cooled down rather quickly.