Unlike Harshit Rana, here's why Virat Kohli will not get IPL 2024 match-ban despite flying kiss celebration

KKR’s Harshit Rana missed out the team’s game against Mumbai Indians due to a similar gesture. However, Kohli is unlikely to see a similar punishment. Here’s why.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Virat Kohli on Saturday got himself into trouble when he made a gesture to GT batter Shahrukh Khan after running him out with a direct throw. However, in spite of having a previous violation to his name, Kohli is unlikely to face a suspension. Notably, KKR’s Harshit Rana missed out the team’s game against Mumbai Indians due to a similar gesture. However, Kohli is unlikely to see a similar punishment. Here’s why.

What happened

Virat Kohli ran Shahrukh Khan out with a brilliant direct throw in the 13th over of GT’s innings. After the dismissal, Kohli proceeded to blow a kiss towards Shahrukh’s direction. It was something similar to what Harshit did to get a suspension. Kohli, if found guilty, will be under the Code of Conduct under Article 2.5. It pertains to “Using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction”.

Why won’t Virat Kohli face suspension

If Kohli is found guilty, this will be his second breach in ongoing IPL, having previously paid a fine for disagreeing with the umpire after being controversially dismissed in the RCB versus Kolkata Knight Riders match at Eden Gardens.

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The Code of Conduct’s Article 7 outlines the penalties that will be applied for breaking the code. Although clause 7.3 stipulates that a player may be subject to “the imposition of a fine of between 50–100 percent of the applicable match fee and/or a suspension of up to two matches” for their first offense, it is made clear by the preceding clause that this is only applicable for two infractions of the same article. The first infraction Kohli committed this season was under Article 2.8, which deals with objecting to an umpire’s call during play. He will probably also face consequences for violating Article 2.5, which deals with his flying kiss gesture. So Kohli is likely to get away with a fine on this instance.