Virat Kohli’s Indian cricket team fined by ICC again after end of Sydney T20I

Virat Kohli’s Indian cricket team could not achieve a 3-0 whitewash against Australia in the Twenty20 International series after losing the third and final match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday. Virat Kohli blasted 85 but it went in vain as India lost the match by 12 runs but they still won the series 2-1. This was the first loss for the Indian cricket team in Twenty20 Internationals in 2020 and their day was soured further when the International Cricket Council (ICC) fined the side for a slow over-rate following the completion of the game in Sydney. Virat Kohli and the entire side were fined 20 percent of their match fee. According to a statement in the ICC, players are fined 20 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

David Boon of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after India was one over short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration. Virat Kohli pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing. On-field umpires Rod Tucker, Gerard Abood, TV umpire Paul Wilson, and fourth umpire Sam Nogajski levelled the charge.

Slow over-rate woes

This was the second time in the entire tour so far that Virat Kohli and the Indian cricket team were fined. Following the end of the first ODI in Sydney, Virat Kohli and the Indian cricket team were fined 20 per cent of their match fees for taking more than the allotted time for bowling their overs in the first One-Day International against host Australia in Sydney, the International Cricket Council said on Saturday.

Virat Kohli's men were found one over short of their target in the stipulated time and were penalised by match referee David Boon at the conclusion of the match, which Australia won by 66 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground. “Kohli pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing,” the ICC had said in a statement at that time.