BGT 2024-25: Virat Kohli might get suspended for fifth test after shoulder bump on Sam Konstas; Check out the ICC's laws

Match referee Andy Pycroft is set to look into Virat Kohli’s shoulder bump with Sam Konstas antic during MCG test.

India star Virat Kohli went a bit too far by shoulder bumping Sam Konstas on day 1 of the MCG test in trying to intimidate the youngster who was rocking up brilliantly on his debut test innings.

The Boxing Day test kicked off in a stunning fashion on Thursday as Konstas, on debut, launched a surreal counter-attack on Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj in the first hour of play after Pat Cummins, the Australian captain, won the toss and elected to bat first.

Despite getting beaten a few times by Bumrah, Konstas remained adventurous against the Indian spearhead pacer to scoop and reverse-scoop him for boundaries behind the squad. Konstas even smoked Bumrah down the ground for a six and collected fours on the offside as well after moving to the legside of the stumps.

Against Bumrah, Konstas scored 34 runs off 33 balls with four fours and two sixes, and against Siraj, he scored 20 runs off 19 balls with two fours, racing to a 52-ball fifty.

As Konstas was hammering the Indian bowlers, Kohli stepped in the action and deliberately shoulder bumped the 19-year-old Aussie debutant.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is confident that match referee Andy Pycroft will look into Kohli’s actions.

“Virat walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever,” Ponting said on Channel 7.

“I have no doubt that the umpires and the referee will have a good look at that. Fielders should be nowhere near the batsman at that stage. Every fieldsman on the ground knows where the batsmen will congregate and get together.

“It looked to me that Konstas looked up really late, wouldn’t even know anyone is in front of him. That man on-screen there (Kohli) might have a few questions to answer.”

Will Virat Kohli get suspended for the fifth test vs Australia?

If the match referee deems Kohli’s shoulder bump with Konstas a Level Two offence, Kohli will receive three or four demerit points. Four points are enough to trigger a suspension for one test match.

The ICC’s Code of Conduct 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”.

Kohli and Konstas come together and make contact 👀#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/adb09clEqd

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 26, 2024

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