ICC accused of hypocrisy as Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah entangled in Matthew Kuhnemann controversy

India's star cricketer Virat Kohli is back in the Australian media for the first time since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. This time, the ICC has been accused of hypocrisy by using the controversy between Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas in the Boxing Day Test last year.

While Kohli's name was dragged into the controversy, former Australia captain Tim Paine also made a shocking statement by calling Matthew Kuhnemann's bowling action similar to that of Jasprit Bumrah.

Australia's left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann was recently reported for suspected bowling action during the Test series in Sri Lanka. Kuhnemann picked up 16 wickets in 2 Tests at an average of 17.18 and was one of the top performers for his team.

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Virat Kohli dragged into Matthew Kuhnemann controversy

Australian cricket writer Ben Horne was clearly not pleased with ICC's decision and compared it with Virat Kohli's punishment that the veteran cricketer received after his altercation with Sam Konstas.

While writing for the Daily Telegraph, Ben Horne called the ICC "sport’s biggest toothless tiger" and argued how Kohli was given with such a small punishment while Kuhnemann was reported despite bowling with an orthodox action.

"Virat Kohli was hit with one of the softest sanctions of all time, yet match officials in Sri Lanka were happy to make an example out of a five-Test orthodox spinner over a marginal bowling action," Horne wrote.

"They are completely different situations that don’t even belong in the same conversation other than the all too familiar running theme that the game’s governing body is sport’s biggest toothless tiger, until an easy target (Matthew Kuhnemann) presents itself," he added.

Virat Kohli-Sam Konstas incident

Virat Kohli was involved in a shoulder barge with Australia's youngster Sam Konstas at the MCG after the former changed his direction deliberately between overs. Both Kohli and Konstas were involved in a heated altercation and it required Usman Khawaja to calm the situation down.

After the end of the day's play, Kohli received a fine of 20% of match fees and also a demerit point. He accepted the sanctions but the former Australian cricketers were not satisfied and accused the match referee of being too soft towards the star Indian player.

Tim Paine compares Matthew Kuhnemann with Jasprit Bumrah

Tim Paine took the controversy to another level and compared Matthew Kuhnemann's action to Jasprit Bumrah. While speaking on Sen Radio, Paine gave this shocking statement and claimed that Kuhnemann's action has some flexion just like Bumrah's.

“I think there’s a bit of flexion, not dissimilar to a Jasprit Bumrah. I think he’d be flat as a tack I’d imagine. In cricket, being accused of throwing is not a great mark to have against your name. You’re being accused in a way, of cheating," Paine said.

Jasprit Bumrah emerged as the highest wicket-taker in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and was easily India's best player in the series. He got injured in the final Test in Sydney due to which he was also ruled out of the Champions Trophy.

While a no. of cricket experts believe that Bumrah chucks in his action, the ICC has called it "hyperextension" rather than bending, which is totally fine according to the rules.