What a waist a wicket!
On social media, the debate surrounding Virat Kohli’s dismissal during Sunday’s game between the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has gained traction.
The batter thought that the Harshit Rana full toss should have resulted in a no-ball, but instead the RCB opener was bowled out after being caught. Former cricket players have also entered the debate with their professional views, and what’s most notable about it all is the lack of agreement. The third umpire’s ruling, which was seen as having a significant influence on the game after RCB lost by one run in the last over, seemed to have had as many supporters as detractors.
Former Indian batsmen Navjot Singh Sidhu and Mohammad Kaif, for example, are screaming “not out,” while former Indian bowler Irfan Pathan understands the law and calls Kohli “out.”
After going out of the game on Sunday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata after a lofty full-toss, RCB opener Virat Kohli is inconsolable. Images/AFPAfter going out of the game on Sunday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata after a lofty full-toss, RCB opener Virat Kohli is inconsolable. Images/AFP
“This was a slower delivery that was sinking; if it had been faster, it would have been considered over waist height. Irfan reasoned that the delivery was lawful.
Sidhu questioned the technology and the trajectory it provided, pointing out that according to pre-tournament measurements done by the organizers, the ball would have crossed the popping crease at a height of 0.92 meters, below Kohli’s waist height of 1.04 meters.
Sidhu continued, taking the discussion to a new level by criticising the recent technology-enabled ruling that made the beamer permissible. “Bowlers used to apologize if they accidentally delivered a beamer in our day and age,” he said. He went on, “If something has to be changed—read, rules—it should be for the better.”
Perhaps escaped, claims Salt
The handsome opener for KKR, Phil Salt, was there for the action and was aware of how close this one was. Before KKR’s annual charity event, Knight Golf, on Monday, the wicketkeeper said, “Feels like we may have got away with one there.” It’s new to the game; maybe an evaluation will be conducted after a year to determine its effectiveness. Anytime data and technology are used, in the player’s perspective, they improve the game, he said.
Ironically, the purpose of tracking technology was to eliminate these kinds of disputes since it was accurate and devoid of human mistake. Who would have guessed there would be so much grouse and gray left?
