Virat Kohli Fined 50% Of Match Fees For Arguing With Umpire Over Controversial Dismissal

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) handed over a 50% match fee fine to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)'s former skipper and ace batter, Virat Kohli for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct. According to the cricket governing body, during the match number 36 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on April 21, 2024, Virat Kohli breached the code of conduct when he argued with on-field umpire after he was given out.

In an official statement, the BCCI said "Virat 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."

What was the incident?

In the third over of the RCB vs KKR match, second inning, opener Virat Kohli played a waist-height full toss by Harshit Rana with a straight bat which was pouched by the pacer himself. However, Virat Kohli instantly objected to the delivery's height and looked unhappy with the umpire's out decision.

Later, with the help of Hawkeye, it was out found that Virat Kohli was standing outside the crease when the waist-height-dipping ball from Harshit Rana made the impact. It was noted that Virat Kohli's waist height is 1.04 metres, while the ball would have made an impact at 0.92 metres if the batter stood upright at the popping crease and not outside the line.

Hence, the ball was marked as a legal delivery.