Virat Kohli Could Be Suspended After On-Field Spat With Umpire

Virat Kohli is in danger of getting suspended after his on-field spat with umpire Nitin Menon in the last over of day 3 on Monday. 

After England's Joe Root survived a close umpire's call off Axar Patel's ball in the last over of the day, Virat Kohli looked in great disappointment. He immediately confronted the umpire. 

The on-field decision was given not out after Indians appealed for caught behind. However, Virat Kohli used DRS to reconfirm the decision. In the review, the ball clipped the pads of Joe Root. In the ball tracking, the decision of stayed not out after the ball's impact was seen as Umpire's call. 

After his altercation with umpire Nitin Menon, Virat Kohli might be handed demerit points according to Article 2.8 in the ICC’s Code of Conduct which covers “dissent at an Umpire’s decision”, and includes “arguing or entering into a prolonged discussion with the Umpire about his/her decision”. 

 

Article 2.8 says that “It shall not be a defence to any charge brought under this Article to show that the umpire might have, or in fact did, get any decision wrong.”

If charged, Kohli could have a Level 1 or Level 2 offence brought against him, which could lead to an imposition of between one and four demerit points. 

The Indian captain already has two demerit points against his name in the last 24 months. If Kohli is found guilty and gets two demerit points, he will be handed a one-match suspension.