IPL 2024: Virat Kohli heavily fined for breach of code of conduct during RCB vs KKR clash

Virat Kohli has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee for a code of conduct violation during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday (Apr 21).

Kohli was visibly displeased after he was given out during the chase whilst playing a high-fulltoss, which he argued was abovethe waist height.

"Mr Virat Kohli, Batter, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has been fined 50 per cent of his match fees for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during Match 36 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on April 21, 2024," IPL said in a statement.

It added that Kohli committed a Level 1 offence under Article 2.8 of the IPL's Code of Conduct.

"For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee's decision is final and binding," the statement added.

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What happened?

After KKR posted a challenging target of 223, RCB were off to a flying start, courtesy of Kohli and Faf du Plessis. However, in the third over,Harshit Rana’s dipping full toss found Kohli’s leading edge andthe formergrabbed it off his bowling to send the RCB star back in the hut.

Although from the naked eye it looked not out as the ball was above the waist height, the TV replays showed that the ball was dipping. The fact that Kohli was outside his crease went against him as well with the third umpire giving the benefit of doubt to the fielding team.

The decision irked Kohli, who argued with the on-field umpires and later walked away in utter disbelief and agony. He could also be seen hitting a dustbin outside the boundary ropes while returning to the pavilion.

“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,” Faf told the broadcasters after the game.

In the end, RCB lost the match by an agonising one-run margin to slip further in the points table, with hopes of making it to the playoffs taking a major hit.

(With inputs from agencies)