Virat Kohli No Ball Controversy: Royal Challengers Bengaluru star batter Virat Kohli‘s dismissal in their recent clash against KKR triggered a huge debate on social media and in the cricket community.
Virat Kohli’s dismissal in the game questioned the fair use of technology in the cricket game. Though the match officials later explained the batter with the terms on which he was dismissed, Virat’s supporters and many others continued to argue with their side of theories.
The incident took place in the first delivery of the third over where Harshit Rana bowled a full-toss which Kohli connected a little above his waist height and ended up being caught by the bowler.
Though the umpire sanctioned him with OUT, the right-hander decided to review the delivery but the result went in favour of the bowling team. Before leaving the field, Virat argued with the onfield umpire regarding the issue and left the field with frustration.
Kohli was seen damaging the ground properties while walking towards the dressing room. Following the umpire’s decision, social media erupts with various explanations regarding the dismissal.
Virat Kohli had a chat with the umpire after the match. pic.twitter.com/mya45sbKW2
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 21, 2024
How Virat Kohli was Given Out?
Right after Virat decided to review the decision, the TV umpire utilized the Hawk-Eye technology to analyze the trajectory of the ball with Kohli’s stance at the crease.
The technology revealed that although the delivery was above waist height, it would have passed below Kohli’s waist had he remained within the crease, making it a legitimate delivery as per the IPL’s new guidelines on high full tosses.
Ahead of the season’s start, the board implemented a new technology to measure the height of the ball as it passes the batter at the popping crease and compares it with the pre-recorded toe-to-waist height of the batter in an upright position. The decision will be taken based on the result.
Virat Kohli’s waist was measured at 1.04 meters by the technology in the upright position. But, technological assessment showed that if Kohli stayed inside the crease, the ball would’ve reached him at a height of 0.92 meters. Hence, the delivery cannot be called a no-ball. Based on this, Virat Kohli was given out.
What does the Rule Book say?
According to rule 41.7 of ICC regulations ‘Bowling of dangerous and unfair non-pitching deliveries‘:
Any delivery, which passes or would have passed, without pitching, above waist height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease, is to be deemed to be unfair, whether or not it is likely to inflict physical injury on the striker.
If the bowler bowls such a delivery the umpire shall immediately call and signal No ball. Hence, the rule couldn’t come to Kohli’s rescue in this specific case.
Speaking on the game, RCB lost the game by a narrow 1 run and broke the hearts of millions. Apart from a defeat, RCB’s captain Faf du Plessis was handed a fine of INR 12 Lakh for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct.
During the post-match presentation, RCB captain Faf du Plessis said “It was crazy, rules are rules, Virat and myself thought that the ball was higher than the waist (on Kohli’s dismissal), I guess they measured from the popping crease, one team thinks it’s high, the other doesn’t. That’s how the game goes at times”.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play their next game of the season against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 25 in Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.
