Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Virat Kohli has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct in their recent clash against Kolkata Knight Riders in Eden Garden.
“Kohli committed a Level 1 offence under Article 2.8 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct. He admitted to the offence and accepted the Match Referee’s sanction. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee’s decision is final and binding,” the official statement read.
Kohli was involved in a heated altercation with the on-field umpires after a controversial dismissal.
The incident took place in the first delivery of the third over where Harshit Rana bowled a full-toss which Kohli connected a little above his waist height and ended up being caught by the bowler.
Though the umpire sanctioned him with OUT, the right-hander decided to review the delivery but the result went in favour of the bowling team. Before leaving the field, Virat argued with the onfield umpire regarding the issue and left the field with frustration.
Kohli was seen damaging the ground properties while walking towards the dressing room. Following the umpire’s decision, social media erupts with various explanations regarding the dismissal.
Aggressive Kohli💥🔥❤️🔥🤙#ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/DM1ev5APQU
— Sushma (@SushmaAradhyaa) April 22, 2024
Speaking on the game, RCB lost the game by a narrow 1 run and broke the hearts of millions. Apart from a defeat, RCB’s captain Faf du Plessis was handed a fine of INR 12 Lakh for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct.
During the post-match presentation, RCB captain Faf du Plessis said “It was crazy, rules are rules, Virat and myself thought that the ball was higher than the waist (on Kohli’s dismissal), I guess they measured from the popping crease, one team thinks it’s high, the other doesn’t. That’s how the game goes at times”.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play their next game of the season against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 25 in Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.
