Ponting reckons Kohli’s fine for shouldering Konstas wasn’t ‘harsh enough’

The ICC fined Virat Kohli 20 per cent of his match fees for deliberately shouldering Australian teenager Sam Konstas on day one of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, a punishment former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting feels is not harsh enough. Calling out the instance from the commentary box earlier, Ponting expressed disappointment ahead of day two with how Kohli got away with a minute punishment, claiming it’s different for some people.

“Personally, I do not think it [the punishment] was harsh enough. I know there are precedents [where similar infringements have incurred similar-sized penalties] – they have generally been between a 15 and 25 per cent fine, but let us have a think about the enormity of yesterday,” Ponting said while speaking on 7 Cricket ahead of day two at the MCG.

After Australia elected to bat first at the MCG, Konstas, replacing McSweeney and making his Test debut, smoked Indian ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah for 18 runs in his fourth over, including hitting him a six off a reverse scoop. His stroke play impressed everyone except Virat, who bumped into Konstas after the end of the 10th over, leading to a confrontation.

Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas exchanged a heated moment on the MCG. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/QL13nZ9IGI

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2024

Usman Khawaja and the on-field umpires had to intervene to separate them, with the crowd and social media buzzing over the incident. 

Cricket Australia reported first that the ICC would look into the matter following the day’s play, and they did, finding Kohli guilty of breaching their code of conduct and punishing him for the same.

ALSO READ: BGT, MCG Test: Australia all out on 474 after Smith’s record Test ton

Kohli accepted the fine; however, Ponting talked about its larger implications.

“It is probably the most-watched day of cricket all year all around the world. Imagine if that happens in a grade game on the weekend now, what is going to happen there? I think people are going to think that that is almost acceptable now,” Ponting noted.

Punishments are different for different people

The former Aussie captain, who also, during his time, was a fierce competitor, didn’t mince his words on admitting that Kohli perhaps escaped a ban, adding there are different punishments for different people.

“And, unfortunately, for someone like Virat, as we got told as players and as senior players, sometimes it is [the scale of punishment] just different for some people. He is a role model; he is somebody the cricketing world looks up to, so I, personally, do not think that the fine was harsh enough,” Punter noted.

Meanwhile, Australia scored 474 in the first innings, thanks to a brilliant 140 from Steve Smith – his record 34th Test ton, second of this series, fifth at the MCG and 18th overall in Australia. 

In reply, India lost their captain Rohit Sharma (3) and KL Rahul (24) before tea on day two. 

ABSOLUTE SEED FROM CUMMINS! #AUSvIND | #DeliveredWithSpeed | @nbn_australia pic.twitter.com/zvzvkDyAnb

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2024

(With inputs from agencies)