Virat Kohli fined for showing obscene gesture

Kohli was pictured showing his middle finger to the crowd on the second day when Indians were on the ropes and Australians were piling runs by hundreds in the middle.

The level two offence for breaching the ICC8217;s code of conduct relates to 8220;using language or gestures that is seriously obscene,seriously offensive and of a seriously insulting nature to another player,player support personnel,umpire,match referee or any other third person during an international match.

The minimum punishment for such an offence is 50 per cent of the match fee or a maximum penalty of a one-Test suspension.

Kohli had earlier used twitter to present his personal viewpoint on the matter.

8220;I agree cricketers don8217;t have to retaliate,what when the crowd says the worst things about your mother and sister,the worst I8217;ve heard,8221; tweeted Kohli.

Former England skipper and one-time team-mate of Kohli in the IPL side Royal Challengers Bangalore,Kevin Pietersen offered a word of sympathy to the young batsman on twitter.

8220;Welcome to Australia buddy8230; you beat them and they start abusing their own.8221;

It seems a Sydney Test between the two nations can8217;t pass without a controversy.

During India8217;s last tour of Australia in 2007-08,a massive row erupted on the 8220;monkeygate8221; issue and nearly led to the abandonment of the tour and a diplomatic row between the two nations.