Cricket fans lashed out in outrage after Indian star Virat Kohli received a fine rather than a suspension after admitting slamming his shoulder into Australian teenage sensation Sam Konstas during a dramatic Boxing Day Test opener.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Thursday night that it had deducted Kohli one demerit point, meaning he avoids a suspension that would have kept him out of the Sydney Test, in addition to deducting 20 per cent of his his match fee.
Umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Shawn Craig reported on Kohli.
He admitted the infringement and accepted the penalty from Andy Pycroft, who is refereeing in his 100th test as a match official.
The ICC said Kohli “approached batsman Sam Konstas and negligently struck his shoulder inappropriately.”
The flashpoint comes days after the Indian superstar took issue with local media when he arrived in Melbourne.
Pictured: The moment Virat Kohli shoulder-hit Australian debutant Sam Konstas on the first day of the Boxing Day Test.
Kohli is free to play in the Sydney Test after the International Cricket Council decided not to suspend him for the ugly act.
Konstas' teammate Usman Khawaja (centre) had to come between him and Kohli to calm the situation after the 19-year-old responded to the former Indian captain with a verbal tirade.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting had no doubt that Kohli had initiated contact, with the Indian veteran and the Australian teenager bumping shoulders after the 10th over.
'Look at the way Virat walks. “Virat walked a full pitch to his right and instigated that confrontation, certainly in my mind,” Ponting said on the Seven Network.
Both Australian and Indian fans condemned Kohli's actions and were left furious that the ICC did not deem the incident worthy of a ban.
Former Australian cricket star Darren Berry wrote on X: '20% and 1 demerit point'. Change direction to deliberately make contact with a child on your debut. What a cowardly, pathetic and manipulated result that confirms what we all already know. After 12 hours of cricket, I will take my bat and ball and go home.”
“An absolute joke but absolutely predictable,” one fan wrote on the social media platform.
Others claimed that the light punishment was because the ICC was afraid of being out of touch with the powerful Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI).
'Smooth decision. Typical. Oh, let's not offend the Indians,” another commenter added.
'What a disgrace. Totally cowardly on the part of the ICC. Imagine my surprise,” wrote a fourth.
“No one expected a suspension. Aside from the incident being no big deal, he's Indian. The Indian Cricket Board does not suspend Indian players, officials or corrupt franchise owners.
Former Australian cricket star Darren Berry led the chorus of condemnation when it emerged Kohli had evaded a ban.
Several commentators claimed the ICC did not suspend the star because it fears being on the wrong side of the powerful Board for the Control of Cricket in India.
Indian fans criticized their former captain when local media reported on the clash.
'What a shameful act. Kohli totally lost his respect,” wrote one reader in the Times of India, which included a long list of comments criticizing the 36-year-old.
'Kohli once again shows his frustration on the field because he cannot perform. “He is degrading cricket and our nation by his unwarranted antics,” another added.
'This Kohli is a big joker. Show your aggression with bats, not bully kids. Useless guy,” wrote a third.
Konstas was clearly irritating the tourists amid his stunning Test debut: moments before he and Kohli collided, pacer Mohammed Siraj had taken a bite out of the teenager.
After being fired for 60 years, Konstas said the incident took him by surprise.
“I think the emotions affected us both. I didn't fully realize, I was putting on the gloves and then a little bit of a load on my shoulder. It happens, it's cricket,” he told the Seven Network.
Immediately after contact, Konstas turned around in surprise and Kohli reacted, as if to suggest it was the Australian's fault.
Fellow opener Usman Khawaja, an amused spectator of Konstas' fireworks, intervened and put an arm around Kohli as he played peacemaker.
Konstas responded to the shoulder charge by smashing 18 runs in his next over.
Gough also had words at that time with Kohli and Konstas.
Indian great Ravi Shastri, who used to be Kohli's Indian coach, was not impressed.
“That's totally unnecessary, we don't want to see that,” Shastri told Fox Sports.
“Virat is a veteran player, he has been captain… he will have his own explanations about it, but it is something you don't want to see.”
The Australian debutant reacted to the incident in the best possible way, bowling the first ball of Jasprit Bumrah's next over for four en route to making 60.
“(Konstas) has definitely gotten a little angry,” Ponting said.
—Yes, it has made them nervous. Yes, it bothers them. Yes, there is some frustration out there.”
Kohli got off to a poor start to his visit to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test, criticizing local television reporters when they filmed members of his family at the airport.