Virat Kohli Gets Official Warning, Comes Closer To Being Banned

Virat Kohli is known for his aggression and passion when he steps out on the field, whether as a batsman or as skipper of the Indian cricket team. The aggression and passion is good but sometimes it can lead to trouble. In the third and final Twenty20 International between India and South Africa at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore, Kohli's aggression has resulted in an official warning and this has put him in danger of being banned in the future if he repeats the offence again. 

Kohli was found guilty of a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct in the match which South Africa won by nine wickets. The incident occurred in the fifth over of India's innings, when Kohli made contact with bowler Beuran Hendricks while taking a run. "Kohli was found to have breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to 'Inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match'," the ICC said in a statement.

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In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to the disciplinary record of Kohli, for whom it was the third offence since the introduction of the revised Code in September 2016.  Kohli now has three demerit points after having got one demerit point each during the Centurion Test against South Africa on January 15, 2018 and against Afghanistan in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 on June 22."Kohli admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, and as such, there was no need for a formal hearing," the ICC said.

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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. When a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned. Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player. Demerit points will remain on a player or player support personnel's disciplinary record for a period of 24 months from their imposition, following which they will be expunged.

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