'Can’t hang a man for picking someone’s pocket' - Sunil Gavaskar defends Virat Kohli's fine after Konstas incident

Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has come out in defence of Virat Kohli following the International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to fine the Indian batter 20% of his match fee during the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India.

Kohli was penalized for shouldering Australia debutant Sam Konstas during a heated moment on Day 1 of the fourth Test. While many have criticized the punishment as too lenient, Gavaskar said that the ICC acted within its regulations and did not grant Kohli any special treatment.

The controversial incident occurred when Kohli was visibly frustrated and made deliberate physical contact with the 19-year-old debutant. Match referee Andy Pycroft charged Kohli with a Level 1 offence, the least severe category for on-field physical contact, resulting in a fine and a single demerit point.

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Gavaskar quashed the allegations of preferential treatment and pointed out that the punishment was within the ICC protocols.

"Yes, you would say that the punishment may be light, considering the experience that he has had. But, that’s the maximum punishment that is decided by the ICC, He has not been done any favour. If, for example, the fine was 10 per cent, then you could have said ‘ah, he has been done a favour’. But, the fine for a Level 1 offence is maximum a 20 per cent. I am not 100 per cent on that, but I am given to understand that there is one demerit point and a fine. That’s the maximum allowed, that’s what has been levied on him. No special favours have been done to him. You can’t hang a man for picking someone’s picket. That’s what the Australian media is asking for," Sunil Gavaskar told Star Sports.

Gavaskar backed his statement by referencing similar incidents involving other players. He pointed out that Ireland’s Josh Little and India’s Jasprit Bumrah had faced comparable sanctions in the past year for physical contact. Little was fined 15% of his match fee for bumping Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, while Bumrah received only a reprimand for contact with England’s Ollie Pope.

"I know in this particular year, there have been four such incidents in which there have been fines. Last December, Ireland bowler Josh Little was fined 15 per cent for physical contact with a batter, a Level 1 offence. In that game, Andy Pycrot was the match referee. Jasprit Bumrah was also reprimanded for Level 1 physical contact for physical contact with England’s Ollie Pope," Gavaskar added.

However, the decision did not sit well with sections of the Australian media and former cricketers like Ricky Ponting and Mark Waugh, who accused the ICC of favouritism. They mentioned that Kohli’s stature as a global icon might have influenced the decision to impose a relatively mild penalty.