IPL 2021: Virat Kohli reprimanded for breach of conduct in SRH vs RCB match

Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper, was reprimanded by match referee Vengalil Narayan Kutty after the former was guilty of breaching the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) Code of Conduct during the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Thursday, April 14.

At the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, the 32-year-old Kohli was charged with a Level 1 breach of clause 2.2, pertaining to “Abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during a Match”.

After Jason Holder dismissed him for 33, the TV cameras caught Kohli kicking a chair and an advertising cushion. Back in 2016, Gautam Gambhir, the former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper, copped 15 percent of his match fees for a similar incident.

I believed we could win with 150: Virat Kohli

The Challengers are currently placed on top of the points table with wins in their first two IPL matches. In their last game, RCB came back from behind and won by six runs at the Chepauk. Glenn Maxwell’s half-century followed by Shahbaz Ahmed’s three-wicket haul scripted the win for RCB.

In the presentation ceremony, Kohli accepted that the track wasn’t a belter for batting and the Challengers fancied their chances with 150 on the board. He also lauded Maxwell for being the game-changer.

“Not as exhausted as I am proud (of the team). It was a top game for us, the wicket is going to get challenging, we saw that yesterday. You are never really out of the game in these conditions. We have more bowling options and those extra bowling options made those impact performances in the middle overs,” Kohli said after the game.

“The wicket was never a belter and our execution under pressure was spot on. It kept getting tougher and tougher with the old ball,” he stated.

“I told the guys don’t think that we struggled to get to 149. I believed we could win with 150. If it was tough for us, it will be tough for them as well. I think Maxi’s innings was the difference for us,” Virat added.

RCB’s next match is against the Eoin Morgan-led Knight Riders on Sunday, April 18 in Chennai.