WILL VIRAT KOHLI GET BANNED BEFORE SEMIFINALS? FANS IN SHOCK

Team India Captain, Virat Kohli, has left his fans worried just before the World Cup semifinals, as he might face a ban due to excessive appealing and arguing with the on-field umpires. 

According to DNA reports, Kohli was seen having a long, animated chat with the umpire during the 12th over of Bangldesh's innings after ‘Decision Review System’ (DRS) decision did not go in India's favour. It was during India vs Bangladesh match, when Men in Blue defeated Bangladesh by 28 runs to qualify for the last 4. During the 12th over, bowler Mohammed Shami appealed for a leg before wicket versus Bangladesh opening batsman Soumya Sarkar.

However, umpire Marias Erasmus rejected the appeal and declared Soumya Sarkar not out. Following this, Kohli went ahead with the DRS. The DRS showed the ball had hit Soumya’s bat and pad simultaneously and hence the third umpire Aleem Dar also stayed with the decision. India lost their review, the DNA further reports. Following this incident, Kohli was seen having a serious conversation with the umpires.

Also earlier, in the match against Afghanistan in CWC19, Kohli got into a debate with the on-field umpires and he was fined 25 per cent of his match fee for excessive appealing and earned a demerit point for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct. Currently, Kohli has two demerit points under his belt. The Indian skipper had received one during the test match against South Africa on January 15, 2018.

Media reports say that, by arguing during India vs Afghanitan match, Kohli had breached Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct as he breached Article 2.1 of Level of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. The breaching is liked with “Excessive appealing during an International Match”. 

What is Important: Level 1 breach holds a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of the player’s match fee and one or two demerit points, depending on the level of breach. However, when a player gains four or more demerit points within the span of two years, it is converted into suspension points which results to a player getting banned. Two suspension points lead to a ban from one Test, two ODIs or two T20Is, whichever is scheduled first.

Demerit Points stay for a period of two years on a player’s disciplinary record from the date of enforcement before getting deleted from the record.

However, it is unlikely that Kohli will receive punishment for his argument with the on-field umpires on Tuesday. But things might escalate quickly if Kohli does something similar in India’s match against Sri Lanka on Saturday at the Headingley in Leeds.