India’s Kohli was fined for Konsta’s shoulder bump during the fourth Test

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ADDS ICC fines Kohli, changes headline

Cricket’s governing body fined Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli 20 percent of his match fee for deliberately bumping shoulders with young Australian batsman Sam Konstas in the fourth Test on Thursday.

The Indian veteran made heavy contact with the 19-year-old debutant after Konstas thrashed the bowlers around the Melbourne Cricket Ground en route to a blistering 60 off 65 balls.

It sparked a heated exchange between the pair in the first session, with Konstas’ fellow opener Usman Khawaja and umpire Michael Gough intervening.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Thursday that Kohli “has been fined 20 percent of his match fee and awarded one point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct”.

The code relates to “inappropriate physical contact with a player, player support staff, referee, match referee or any other person (including a spectator during an international match),” the ICC said in a statement.

“No formal hearing was necessary as Kohli accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft,” it added.

Considered to be one of the best batsmen of this generation, Kohli was criticized by many for his actions on the field.

“Virat went a full pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation,” Ricky Ponting said on Australia’s Channel Seven. “There is no doubt in my mind.

“I have no doubt that the judges and the referee will take a good look at it.”

Former India coach Ravi Shastri called Kohli’s actions “absolutely unnecessary”.

“Virat is a senior player, he has been captain… he will have his own explanations in terms of that, but that’s one thing you don’t want to see,” he said on Fox Sports.

“One person who will be watching, his eyes locked on the proceedings, is (match referee) Andy Pycroft.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan, also on commentary duties in Australia, said Kohli “acted completely wrong”.

“I don’t know why a senior pro who’s been playing for so long… why he’s been rattled by a 19-year-old. Sam Konstas did absolutely nothing wrong there,” he added.

Konstas, who was called into the side after Nathan McSweeney was sent off, played down the incident in a post-match press conference.

“I was just doing my gloves and I think he accidentally hit me. But that’s just cricket, the excitement,” said the teenager, Australia’s youngest ever opener.

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