IPL 2024: Why Virat Kohli Won’t Get Punished Like Harshit Rana For Flying Kiss Gesture?

New Delhi: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Harshit Rana served a one-match suspension in the ongoing IPL 2024 for his flying-kiss gesture towards a Delhi Capitals player and also fined 100 per cent of his match fees. On Saturday, Virat Kohli did the same against Shahrukh Khan when he ran the Gujarat Titans batter out with a brilliant throw at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

However, Kohli is unlikely to get the same punishment as Harshit. The incident took place in the 13th over of the Gujarat Titans innings when Shahrukh pushed the ball towards cover and tried to steal a single. Kohli, who was fielding nearby, grabbed the ball lighting fast before dislodging the bails and blew a kiss towards the dismissed batter. The gesture was similar to what Harshit did.

Meanwhile, if found guilty, Kohli will breach the Code of Conduct under Article 2.5. The article pertains to “Using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction”. Despite that, Kohli is unlikely to get any fine or suspension.

For the record, Kohli has already paid a hefty fine for his behavior with the on-field umpires after he was controversially given out against Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing season. If found guilty on Saturday, it will Kohli’s the second breach.

Both of Kohli’s offence comes under different articles. His offence against KKR came under Article 2.8 while the RCB star’s gesture against Gujarat Titans comes under Article 2.5. 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, and it is made clear by the preceding clause that this is only applicable for two infractions of the same article.