India deducted third World Test Championship point for slow over-rate in first South Africa Test

Virat Kohli's side have also been fined 20 per cent of their match fee due to slow play during the 113-run win at Centurion

India have been docked one World Test Championship point and fined 20 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate during the first Test win over South Africa at Centurion.

It takes the number of deductions for Virat Kohli's side during the 2021/2023 cycle to three. They lost two for the same offence against England at The Kia Oval in August.

They have also been fined 20 per cent of their match fee. Kohli pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the sanctions, meaning there was no formal hearing.

Andrew Pycroft of the ICC elite panel of match referees imposed the punishment after the breach was raised by umpires Marais Erasmus, Adrian Holdstock, Allahudien Paleker and Bongani Jele.

^{Virat Kohli (Gallo Images/Getty Images)}

A per World Test Championship playing conditions, teams lose one point for each over they are short of the target. Calculations take into account unavoidable delays, such as the use of DRS.

The runners-up from the 2019/2021 edition are currently fourth in the WTC table, behind Australia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

England are the only other nation to have suffered over-rate penalties during the ongoing cycle, having been deducted 10 points so far.

It was the decision to punish Australia with an over-rate breach during the second Test against India in December 2020 that saw them miss out on a place in the inaugural final at The Ageas Bowl, with eventual winners New Zealand benefitting from the ruling.

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