Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been fined 25% of his match fee and received one demerit point for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct in South Africa on Monday.
Play resumed on Monday afternoon after a brief but heavy thundershower when Kohli, displeased with the ball getting wet, voiced his concern to umpire Michael Gough.
There was a moment, after the first boundary following that rain delay, where Kohli aggressively launched the ball into the ground, not pleased with the umpire’s decision to resume play on the field that was not completely dry.
A read: “Monday’s incident happened in the 25th over of South Africa’s second innings when Kohli continued to complain to umpire Michael Gough about the ball being affected by a damp outfield following a rain delay, before throwing the ball into the ground in an aggressive manner.”
Kohli pleaded guilty to the charge after the day's play and accepted the sanction.
The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Michael Gough and Paul Reiffel, third umpire Richard Kettleborough and fourth umpire Allahudien Palekar.
Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.
