Virat Kohli handed one demerit point for inappropriate shoulder contact with Beuran Hendricks

Virat Kohli handed one demerit point: The Indian captain has received his second demerit point for the year 2019.

India captain Virat Kohli has been handed one demerit point for inappropriate shoulder contact with South Africa fast bowler Beuran Hendricks in the third T20I of the ongoing South Africa’s tour of India in Bengaluru.

It all happened in the fifth over of the Indian innings when Kohli was running a single off Hendricks. Just before reaching the non-striker’s end, Kohli was seen colliding with Hendricks. While none of the player gave the impression of reacting to the clash, Kohli has been found guilty  of a Level 1 breach.

Virat Kohli handed one demerit point

The article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel states that “Inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match.”

Since Kohli has accepted a sanction from Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, there is no need of any formal hearing.

Having earlier earned a demerit point each during the tour of South Africa last year and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 earlier this year, Kohli now has three demerit points to his name.

If a player reaches four or more points in a 24-month period, he is bound to be suspended for a Test or two limited-overs matches – whichever comes first.

With the T20I series ending in a 1-1 draw, all eyes will now be on the the three-match Test series. The first of the three matches will begin on October 2 in Visakhapatnam.