Thu Dec 26 19:23:51 UTC 2024: ## Kohli Fined After On-Field Altercation with Australian Debutant
**Ahmedabad, India** – Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli has been fined 20% of his match fee and given a demerit point for a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct following a physical altercation with Australian debutant Sam Konstas during the fourth Test match in Ahmedabad.
The incident occurred during the 10th over of Australia’s innings. While crossing paths on the pitch, Kohli and Konstas bumped shoulders, leading to a brief but heated exchange. Although Konstas described the incident as an accidental bump, the on-field umpires deemed the contact a breach of the Code of Conduct, which prohibits inappropriate physical contact.
Following the bump, the players engaged in a verbal confrontation before being separated by teammate Usman Khawaja and the umpires. Kohli accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft, avoiding a formal hearing. The fine reduces Kohli’s match fee from ₹15 lakh to ₹12 lakh. This is his first demerit point since 2019; accumulating four demerit points within two years results in a one-Test suspension.
Konstas, unfazed by the incident, went on to score a half-century on debut before being dismissed. He stated that the collision was unintentional and attributed the heated exchange to the intense atmosphere of the match.
First Piper 