Reece Topley of the RCB refers to Virat Kohli’s contentious dismissal as a “grey area,” while Harshit Rana declines to comment

In their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by one run. The question remains, was Virat Kohli’s controversial dismissal ultimately responsible for the result?

Third umpire Michael Gough ruled a contentious waist-high delivery from Harshit Rana that was edged back to the bowler by Kohli, using the new Hawk-Eye technology to assess no-balls for height.

Though his words may have been unsportsmanlike, experts, supporters, and even Kohli himself during the game gave their thoughts on the subject.

Reece Topley, an RCB pacer, referred to it as “a grey area” in the game and demanded more rule clarifications.

At the press conference after the game, Topley said, “Obviously, those measurements are brought in to get rid of a grey area, and then you have something today (Sunday) that no one had thought of.”

The ball was beyond Kohli’s hip height when he was clearly out of his crease, and he was also well out of his crease down the wicket.

There is some ambiguity since the measurement was made with Virat within the crease. It is, of course, a narrow margin and would be discussed in a match if the winning margin is only one run.

“We anticipate being let down. Two distinct attitudes and sentiments toward that rejection will exist. It’s only a murky region, Topley said.

He said, “I can throw this back to you saying what was your opinion,” when asked how he would respond if he were the target of such a dismissal. It’s difficult when two individuals have divergent views. We believe that there are a lot of unknowns and gray areas in our camp, thus the regulations certainly need to be clarified better.

Follow all the action during IPL 2024, including the leading candidates for the Orange and Purple Caps. View the full IPL 2024 schedule, the IPL 2024 points table, and the players who have scored the most sixes, fours, and fifty-fives in the 2024 IPL.

Seamer Harshit Rana of the Kolkata Knight Riders, who stood to gain from Kohli’s “controversial” expulsion, declined to comment on the situation because he didn’t want to be sucked into any more drama.

“The umpire made that call. In such case, what can we say? said Harshit at the news conference after the game.

Following the game, Kohli was seen having a lively chat with the on-field umpire, who attempted to clarify the regulations to the prominent Indian batsman.

The fact that RCB is at the bottom of the points table and lost their sixth game of the season is what counts in the end.