ADELAIDE – As South Africa’s captain Faf du Plessis underwent an official hearing relating to a ball-tampering charge in Adelaide on Tuesday morning, footage has emerged of Indian captain Virat Kohli shining the ball in a similar manner during the first Test against England in Rajkot this week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2YVwko_6WI
Du Plessis has been charged for breaching Article 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct after television footage appeared to show him applying an artificial substance – the sugar of a mint sweet – to the ball during the fourth day’s play in the second Test against Australia in Hobart.
Controversial footage showed Du Plessis shining the ball while having a mint in his mouth. The 32-year-old repeatedly sucked the mint and then licked his finger before rubbing the ball.
He was found guilty of ball-tampering at a hearing on Tuesday and was fined his entire match fee from the Hobart Test. He is free to face Australia in the third Test, which begins in Adelaide on Thursday.
Now there are questions surrounding Kohli’s tactics during the first Test against England in Rajkot this week with television footage showing the Indian skipper rubbing his right hand inside his mouth, where there appears to be a sweet, before going back to shining one side of the ball.
However, the charge against Du Plessis has placed the global regulations of the ICC under the spotlight due to video footage of India captain Virat Kohli.
Like Du Plessis at Hobart, neither the umpires nor the match referee cited the Indian skipper despite the footage being available. But unlike Du Plessis, Kohli has not been charged by the ICC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5WuO7CpIIA
