Team India Fined 20% of Their Match Fees After 1st ODI Defeat Against Australia

During the first ODI of the three-match series between India and Australia, Virat Kohli and team had a poor start after losing by 66 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Sydney on Friday (November 27). The second ODI will be held at the same venue on Sunday (November 29). 

Post the match, Team India were not just criticised for their poor bowling and fielding but were also slammed by many former cricketers for maintaining a slow over-rate throughout the Australian inning.

Hours after the match, the International Cricket Council (ICC) slapped a 20 percent fine to the Indian Team after their 66-run defeat in Sydney.

Meanwhile, match referee David Boon imposed the sanction after the visitors were ruled to be one over short of the target after time allowances were considered.

According to a Times Now report, on-field umpires Rod Tucker and Sam Nogajski, TV umpire Paul Reiffel and fourth umpire Gerard Abood levelled the charge, while Indian captain Virat Kohli pleaded guilty to the offence. He later accepted the proposed sanction, which ruled out any room for a formal hearing.

However, former cricketers like Aakash Chopra and Michael Vaughan shared their views on the slow over-rate. Taking to his social media account, Chopra tweeted during India's run-chase in Sydney, "It’s been 7.30 hours since the start of this game....and we have at least one hour of play to go."

While on the other hand, former England captain Vaughan tweeted, "India’s over rate is appalling ... !!! Body language defensive ... fielding is my standard (shocking) ... Bowling ordinary !!! Aussies on the other hand have been outstanding ... Long tour for India me thinks ..."  

Highlighting about yesterday's game, Aaron Finch and team who decided to bat first piled up a mammoth 374 for 6 in 50 overs, with courtesy centuries from Finch and Steve Smith (105). While, India were 101 for 4 but half-centuries from Shikhar Dhawan (74) and Hardik Pandya (90) kept India's hope alive before they were restricted to 308-8.