Sydney, Jan 5 (IANS) Indian batsman Virat Kohli has been fined 50 percent of his match fees for showing a middle finger to a section of the crowd while fielding on the second day of the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

International Cricket Council (ICC) Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle summoned Kohli before the start of third day’s play and put a level two charge on him for the obscene gesture to the crowd.

Indian team manager Shivlal Yadav accompanied Kohli to the hearing where the batsman pleaded guilty.

“This morning we received a notice from the match referee that level two charges have been framed at Virat Kohli, and the matter has been sorted,” Indian spokesman G.S. Walia said.

Kohli justified his indecent gesture by tweeting that the a section of the crowd said the “worst things” about his family as he was fielding on the boundary. India had a long fielding on day two when Australia amassed 366 runs.

Kohli found a supporter in England batsman Kevin Pietersen for his behaviour.

“ha ha ha ha ha!!! Welcome to Australia buddy!!,” Pietersen wrote. He went on to add that Australian crowds don’t even spare their own cricketers and start abusing them if they are struggling on the field.