Virat Kohli hopes to find more consistency, transparency in ICC rules

In an unusual turn of events, the Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was handed a one match ban after the conclusion of the second Test match against Sri Lanka recently. This, in essence, means that Jadeja will not be a part of the third and the final Test of the series. Indian skipper Virat Kohli recently remarked his opinions on the ban handed over to Jadeja.

Jadeja has been a star performer for the Indian team. Needless to say, his services will be missed in the final Test. Jadeja was the Player of the Match in the second Test. He was handed a couple of demerit points after the game which resulted in a total of 6 demerit points in the last 24 months. He was earlier handed demerit points for running on the pitch in the Indore Test against New Zealand last year.

Virat Kohli feels that the ban has left the players wanting to be more aware about the ICC rules. He also wants that the handing over of the demerit points must be consistent in all cases. He hopes to see no disparity and the factor of the intent to be taken into consideration while evaluating any offense on the field.

“I think players have to be much more aware going ahead and just hoping that the guidelines are very similar from now on. Because it shouldn’t vary according to how the situation is looked at. So if it is consistent then I think it is going to be a good going ahead because players will obviously be more aware of how they need to conduct themselves on the field. It will only help the game get better,” quoted Virat Kohli as per the quotes in Zee News.

The intent factor

He further cited that the rules and the regulations must be elucidated s that the players could know what could possibly land them a demerit point. Also, the officials must see if the actions of the individual were unintentional or intentional in the context of the game.

“Firstly we need to be very clear on what are the things that fall into it and what are the things that a player needs to keep in his mind while being on the field. Lot of things happen on the field, which in the thick of things or heat of the moment you end up doing,” said Kohli.

“But you don’t know what’s going to cause you one or two or three points. So I think the intent counts nowadays and that’s something that players need to keep in mind. It might be a very small thing but if the intent is to do something bad then obviously that is something that counts against the player,” he added further.