Furious Aussies slam 'gutless' and 'pathetic' cricket bosses after Virat Kohli avoided a ban for slamming into Sam Konstas
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Cricket fans have lashed out in outrage after Indian star Virat Kohli copped a fine instead of a suspension after admitting to smashing his shoulder into Australian teen sensation Sam Konstas during a dramatic opening to the Boxing Day Test. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Thursday night that it had docked Kohli one demerit point, meaning he avoids a suspension that would have knocked him out of the Sydney Test, as well as docking him 20 per cent of his match fee.
![[Kohli is free to play in the Sydney Test after the International Cricket Council chose not to hit him with a suspension for the ugly act]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/26/21/93503195-14228357-image-a-12_1735248124341.jpg)
Umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Shawn Craig all reported Kohli. He admitted to the offence and accepted the penalty from Andy Pycroft, who is officiating in his 100th Test as match referee.
![[Konstas's teammate Usman Khawaja (middle) had to get between him and Kohli to settle the situation down after the 19-year-old hit back at the former Indian skipper with a verbal tirade]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/26/21/93503215-14228357-image-a-13_1735248150865.jpg)
The ICC said Kohli 'walked up to batter Sam Konstas and negligently bumped his shoulder with the batter inappropriately'. The flashpoint comes days after the Indian superstar took exception to local media when he arrived in Melbourne. Pictured: The moment Virat Kohli slammed his shoulder into teenage Aussie debutant Sam Konstas on the first day of the Boxing Day Test.
![[Former Aussie cricket star Darren Berry led the chorus of condemnation when the news broke that Kohli had dodged a ban]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/26/21/93503359-14228357-image-a-14_1735248201262.jpg)
Kohli is free to play in the Sydney Test after the International Cricket Council chose not to hit him with a suspension for the ugly act. Konstas's teammate Usman Khawaja (middle) had to get between him and Kohli to settle the situation down after the 19-year-old hit back at the former Indian skipper with a verbal tirade.
![[Several commenters claimed the ICC failed to suspend the star because it's afraid to get on the wrong side of the powerful Board for Control of Cricket in India]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/26/21/93503363-14228357-image-a-15_1735248234005.jpg)
