Virat Kohli may have breached the IPL Code of Conduct with an air-kiss celebration during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s victory over  Gujarat Titans but he faces little prospect of a suspension, despite having copped a previous violation this season.

The incident occurred after Kohli ran out Shahrukh with a direct hit. The India great, known for wearing his emotions on his sleeve, may yet be found to to have breached the Code of Conduct under Article 2.5 which pertains to “Using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction”. Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Harshit Rana was found to have breached the Code of Conduct for a similar celebration earlier in the season.

If he is indeed found guilty, it will be Kohli’s second breach of the IPL Code of Conduct, having earlier copped a fine for showing dissent to the umpire following his controversial dismissal during RCB’s game with Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. Rana, after two Code of Conduct breaches this season, was hit with a one-game suspension. But even if Kohli is fined for a breach of Article 2.5, he is not in danger of being banned for RCB’s next game against Punjab Kings on May 9.

Why Kohli is unlikely to be banned?

Article 7 of the Code of Conduct details what sanctions are to be imposed for Code of Conduct breaches. While clause 7.3 states that, if a player has one previous offence, they face “the imposition of a fine of between 50- 100% of the applicable match fee and/or a suspension of up to two matches”, the previous clause makes clear that this only applies for two breaches of the same article. Kohli’s first breach of the season was under Article 2.8 (showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during a match), while he is likely to be pulled up for breaching Article 2.5 for his flying kiss gesture.

Why was Harshit Rana suspended?

Rana, on the other hand, was suspended for breaching Article 2.5 twice in the season. He was first pulled up for his send-off that included a flying kiss to Mayank Agarwal during KKR’s match with Sunrisers Hyderabad and was pulled up again for telling Abishek Porel to walk back to the pavilion against Delhi Capitals.

He missed Kolkata’s match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday (May 3), as a result.

Can Kohli still be banned this year?

The IPL Code of Conduct mentions that a player can get suspended if he has committed two offences under the same Article during the same season as well as in the season “immediately prior to that in which the alleged offence took place.”

Kohli is not only at risk of being suspended for a game this season if he shows dissent at an umpire’s decision again or for using provocative gestures, if he is fined for the latter after the RCB-GT game; he can also be suspended if he breaches Articles 2.2 (Abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during a Match) and Article 2.21 (Conduct that brings the game into disrepute) anytime in 2024.

Kohli was found guilty of violating the last two clauses in the 2023 IPL and with offences of the ongoing and the previous seasons being considered while banning a player, the former India captain needs to be alert.

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