India vs South Africa: ICC reprimands Virat Kohli for breaching the Code of Conduct

Virat Kohli was found to have breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match.”

In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to the disciplinary record of Kohli, for whom it was the third offence since the introduction of the revised Code in September 2016. Kohli now has three demerit points after having got one demerit point each during the Pretoria Test against South Africa on 15 January 2018 and against Afghanistan in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 on 22 June.

Sunday’s incident occurred in the fifth over of India’s innings, when Kohli made contact with bowler Beuran Hendricks while taking a run. Kohli admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, and as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.

On-field umpires Nitin Menon and C K Nandan, third umpire Anil Chaudhary and fourth official Chettihody Shamshuddin levelled the charge. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

Here’s that incident

King se panga nhi lene ka👑#INDvSA #viratkohli pic.twitter.com/1k3Ujqb2E0

— Biggest virat fan (@iampravinkhichi) September 22, 2019

How do demerit points work?

When a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned. Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player

Demerit Points to remain on a Player or Player Support Personnel’s disciplinary record for a period of twenty-four (24) months from their imposition following which they will be expunged.

Coming to the game, It was a dominant show from the Proteas led by their skipper Quinton de Kock. Captain stood from front to hit an unbeaten 79 to level the series 1-1 with the first T20I being washed out. SA will next play a three-match Test series starting from October 2 in Vishakapatnam.