Slap On Wrist For Gesture

Indian batsman Virat Kohli has been fined 50% of his match fees for giving the finger to the crowd at the SCG. As stated by the Indian Team manager GS Wahlia: "The matter as been sorted out....the player felt guilty and sorry and the matter has been closed",  he has been given pretty much a slap on the wrist.

Foxsports Article

Since being fined Kohli has complained about sections of the crowd taunting him.  In just about any other sport a player making gestures like this to the crowd would be facing a one match ban, just ask any footballer in the English Premier League.  If he felt that the crowd had crossed a line why did he not take it to the officials?  Or is this just an Indian cricketer with thin skin?  Or was he hoping he wasn't seen and caught on camera?

Let's hope the Indian don't make this issue into one about how they are getting treated harshly on Australian soil again.  Whether or not sections of the crowd crossed a line, this is a player who has decided to stoop to the same level as those on the other side of the fence and it is for that reason he should have received a one match ban.  If the ICC wants to be serious about it's image on the field then this is the only way it should handle such an incident.  He did not aim it at a player on the field sledging him, instead he has made a gesture to the direction of the crowd and even though he has in his mind aimed it at those taunting him, the gesture is directed at every single person in the crowd in that direction.

But at the end of the day the Indian cricket team will find a way to make this about the Australian crowds and nothing else.  It seems India forgets how sections of it's own crowd has treated players from other countries in the past.