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'Fine Was Not Harsh': Ponting Questions Kohli's Light Punishment After Sam Konstas Clash

Rajgeeta Yadav

Virat Kohli talks to Sam Konstas [Source: AP]Virat Kohli talks to Sam Konstas [Source: AP]

Ricky Ponting, the former Australia cricket captain, has criticised the punishment given to Virat Kohli for a shoulder-barge incident with debutant Sam Konstas during the 2024 Boxing Day Test. Ponting feels the fine, which was just 20% of Kohli’s match fee, was too lenient.

On the opening day of the match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, after Konstas had taken on the Indian bowlers, Kohli collided with the 19-year-old as they were switching ends. Ponting, who had already stated that Kohli started the physical altercation, believes that the punishment was not enough. He pointed out that Kohli was fortunate to escape without further consequences, especially since the ICC normally does not tolerate any physical contact between players. 

In similar cases, such as when South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada made contact with Steve Smith in 2018, he was handed a two-match ban. Ponting felt that Kohli’s actions were more serious, but he got away with just a small fine.

"Personally, I don't think it [the punishment] was harsh enough. I know there are precedents [where similar infringements have incurred similar sized penalties] – they've generally been between a 15 and 25 per cent fine but let's have a think about the enormity of yesterday.

"It's 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's going to happen there? I think people are going to think that that's almost acceptable now,” he said

"And unfortunately for someone like Virat, as we got told as players and as senior players, sometimes it's [the scale of punishment] just different for some people. He's a role model, he's somebody the cricketing world looks up to, so I personally don't think that the fine was harsh enough," Ponting added.

The incident itself occurred when Kohli and Konstas bumped into each other after the 10th over of Australia’s innings. They exchanged a few words before Khawaja and the umpire intervened to prevent any further confrontation.

Sam Konstas Shines On His Dream Debut

Despite the clash with Kohli, Konstas had a memorable debut. He impressed by attacking the Indian bowlers, particularly Jasprit Bumrah. Konstas became only the second player in Test cricket to hit Bumrah for two sixes in a single innings, following England’s Jos Buttler. Konstas showed great confidence, playing shots like scoops and reverse scoops against the Indian pace spearhead.