India captain Virat Kohli has received one demerit point and an official warning for ‘inappropriate’ shoulder contact with Proteas seamer Beuran Hendricks during Sunday’s third and final T20I at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

The incident happened during the fifth over of India’s innings. Kohli breached article 2.12 of the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct for players and support personnel, which relates to ‘inappropriate physical contact with a player, player support personnel, umpire, match referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an international match.’

Kohli had incurred demerit points during 2018’s second Test against the Proteas in Centurion and this year’s World Cup fixture against Afghanistan in the United Kingdom. He was penalised for aggression toward umpire Michael Gough in Centurion and reprimanded for excessive appealing against Afghanistan.

Kohli admitted to Sunday’s offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Richie Richardson. The Proteas won the series decider on the back of captain Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten half-century.

‘We will have games like this where we don’t execute what we want. But as long as the intent is there to improve, we’ll be in a good zone. The guys who have done well in the domestic circuit are getting opportunities, so it’s not like we are playing random people. You have to understand as well that it’s a very young side, you have to give them time as a team to come together,’ said Kohli after the match.

India and the Proteas will contest three Tests in October.

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