Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan weighed in on the debate, defending the umpire’s judgment based on the game’s rules. He described in detail how Kohli was standing outside the crease at the time of the delivery. Furthermore, the ball was dipping at a’slower one’ variety while being launched squarely over the batter’s waist.
The removal of ace batter Virat Kohli in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) nail-biting one-run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 21st has become a big talking topic. Harshit Rana caught and bowled Kohli on the first ball of the third over, but the manner in which he was dismissed stirred criticism.
Kohli complained that Rana’s delivery was above waist height; therefore, the on-field umpire decided to consult with the third umpire, Michael Gough. Replays revealed that, although it was a full toss, the ball had dipped enough to be considered a genuine delivery as Kohli stood beyond his crease.
The former RCB captain was furious with the decision and engaged in a heated debate with the umpire before banging his bat against the boundary rope as he went off to the dressing room. His expulsion for 18 was costly in RCB’s chase of 223; they fell short by one run and finished on 221.
“Virat Kohli was standing slightly outside his crease, and the delivery was a full toss.” If it had been delivered faster, it would have gone over the waist, but because it was delivered slowly, it dipped. If Virat Kohli had been standing in the popping crease, the ball would have been lower than his assessed waist height, making it a legal delivery, but according to me and the rules, it was clear out,” he claimed in a video shared with his supporters on his ‘X’ handle.
See Irfan Pathan’s explanation of Kohli’s dismissal here.
I hope this helps. #noball #legaldelivery pic.twitter.com/VZcW8rtsa5
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 21, 2024
This year, the BCCI took pictures of each player in the IPL 2024 and measured their waist height. Pathan
Furthermore, Irfan Pathan stated that the BCCI (Board for Control of Cricket in India) measured each IPL player’s waist height from the popping crease this year, providing information to evaluate permissible deliveries.
“This year, the BCCI photographed and measured each IPL 2024 player’s physical weight and waist height. These dimensions are taken while the player stands on the popping crease without flexing his knees; hence, they were employed here,” he explained.
Also read: Navjot Singh Sidhu defends Virat Kohli following his contentious dismissal against KKR, saying it is “against the spirit of the game.
While Kohli’s fury was understandable in the heat of the moment, the third umpire’s choice to use technology looks justified given his location outside the crease. The dispute has rekindled concerns regarding cricket’s laws and umpire choices.
Furthermore, the match itself was an emotional rollercoaster, with Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar’s efforts going unrewarded as the team suffered their eighth defeat of the season. Andre Russell won the Player of the Match award for his overall effort.
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