India skipper Virat Kohli has been penalised for his poor conduct, he has to pay fine of 25% of his match fee for expressing objection and protest against the umpire during the third day’s play of second Test against South Africa in Centurion.
ICC said in a statement, “India captain Virat Kohli has been fined 25% of his match fee and received one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the third day’s play in the second Test against South Africa at Centurion on Monday.”
The incident happened in the 25th over of South Africa’s second innings yesterday. It was when Kohli continuously complained to umpire Michael Gough about the ball being affected by a damp outfield following a rain delay, before throwing the ball into the ground in an aggressive manner.
After the match Bumrah said that Kohli has been asking about the condition of the ball to the umpire.
“The ball was swinging (before the break) but when we went back, both sides of the ball got wet so the ball stopped swinging,” Bumrah said.
Virat Kohli was found to have breached Article 2.1.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game.”
After the play, Kohli pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees . There was no need for a formal hearing after this though.
A statement from the ICC read: “Monday’s incident happened in the 25th over of South Africa’s second innings when Kohli continued to complain to umpire Michael Gough about the ball being affected by a damp outfield following a rain delay, before throwing the ball into the ground in an aggressive manner.”
The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Michael Gough and Paul Reiffel, third umpire Richard Kettleborough and fourth umpire Allahudien Palekar.
Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50% of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.
Stellar innings from from Kohli kept India in the match as he made 153 in India’s first innings of 307.
