India vs Australia: Virat Kohli and Co fined for slow over-rate in 1st ODI

Virat Kohli-led Team India was fined 20 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against Australia in the first One-Day International (ODI) at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Friday.

David Boon of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after it was declared that India was one over short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration, according to an official release from the ICC.

In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 20 per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

The release further stated that since Indian captain Kohli pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, there was no need for a formal hearing.

Australia went 1-0 up in the ongoing three-match ODI series after they thrashed Kohli and Co. by 66 runs in Sydney. Batting first, Australia posted a huge total of 374 for 6 in 50 overs, courtesy of centuries from captain Aaron Finch and former skipper Steven Smith. Opening batsman David Warner scored his 22nd ODI fifty, while Glenn Maxwell produced a cameo of 45 off just 19 deliveries.

In reply to Australia's 374, Hardik Pandya and Shikhar Dhawan took India close, but failed to finish the job. Pandya scored 90 off 76 balls – his new high score in the ODIs, while the Delhi batsman scored a 86-ball 74.

Reacting to India's loss on Friday, Kohli admitted that leading up to the first ODI, India got enough time to prepare, so there were no excuses for the loss.

"Got enough time to prepare. Don't think there can be any excuses. Probably the first long game we've played in a while, been playing T20 cricket. Probably that's something that can have an effect. The body language wasn't great after around 25 overs. If you don't take your chances against top-quality opposition, they'll make you pay.

Unfortunately, Hardik is not fit enough to bowl, and we don't have other all-round options to pick from either, someone like Stoinis or Maxwell. From the batting point of view, we had a chat briefly now. All the batsmen committed to it which is why you saw us playing with intent. I think we gave ourselves the best chance. Hardik's innings was the best example of that. As a batting unit we committed nicely to positive cricket and we are going to do that in the future as well," added Kohli in the post-match interview.

The second ODI between India and Australia is set to take place on Sunday, again at the SCG.