IPL2024: Harbhajan Singh discusses Virat Kohli’s removal from the KKR team

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh supported the umpire’s decision after Virat Kohli’s ejection from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

During RCB’s pursuit of 223 runs, Kohli, in peak form, blasted two massive sixes in his innings of 18 off 7 balls. After a full delivery that seemed like a beamer at first, Harshit Rana caught and bowled him.

The star player for the Royal Challengers Bangalore sent the call to the third umpire, not amused by the judgment made by the on-field umpires.

The third umpire reviewed the replays and affirmed the on-field ruling, which resulted in his dismissal. As the Knights celebrated, Virat was seen arguing on the field and storming off in a fit of rage after being declared out.

While acknowledging that Harshit produced a slower delivery and that, had Kohli remained in the popping crease, the ball would have sunk and fallen below the waistline, Harbhajan supported the umpire’s ruling.

“There was much discussion about whether the ball should have been declared no-ball since it was above the waistline when Virat Kohli got out. It was a slower delivery and the ball was high.” When you are that far away from the popping crease (the white line), Hawkeye measures your waist. Virat was standing outside of the crease. According to Harbhajan’s YouTube channel, “This year, the BCCI measured each player’s height. If the ball passes above the waistline, it is deemed a no-ball; if not, the decision is not given.”

“The ball was around 0.92 meters, which is less than Kohli’s waistline (1.04), if he was within the crease. The ball seemed to be pretty high when seen with the unaided eye, but Kohli was far outside the crease. Because it was a slower ball, it would have sunk; had it been bowled faster, it may have been a no-ball. He was distributed in line with the guidelines. If he had remained in the crease, I think the ball would have dropped,” Harbhajan said.

Virat was spotted fighting with an on-field umpire and disputing his dismissal before he stormed out. The hitter was observed smashing his willow on the ground and bashing a garbage can with his gloves, forcing it to topple, as he hurried back to the pavilion.

Following a one-run defeat in the chase, captain of the RCB, Faf du Plessis, made a very controversial statement on the umpire’s ruling.

“The rules are, of course, the rules. At that point, Virat and I speculated that the ball may have been higher than his waist. “I suppose the popping crease is how they measure it,” remarked RCB captain du Plessis after the match. There will always be one team under certain circumstances that is content and one team that doesn’t think the choice was the best one. However, it is the nature of the game,” he said.