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In the 36th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) faced off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). KKR, who were asked to bat first, posted a formidable total of 222 for 6. Phil Salt’s blistering 48 off 14, Shreyas Iyer’s 50 off 36, and Rinku Singh’s 24 off 16 contributed significantly to the total of KKR.
In the chase, RCB fought valiantly but narrowly missed victory by just 1 run, losing on the final ball. Will Jacks led RCB’s charge with a brisk 55 off 32, while Rajat Patidar’s aggressive 52 off 23 and Karan Sharma’s quickfire 20 off 7 almost turned the tide.
However, the match witnessed a controversial moment when Virat Kohli was adjudged out on a delivery that seemed like a no-ball. Kohli and RCB captain Faf du Plessis argued with the umpires before Kohli reluctantly left the field. This incident ignited widespread debate among fans and cricket pundits, prompting former South African cricketer to weigh in on the dismissal.
AB de Villiers backs Virat Kohli after his disputed dismissal
Kohli was caught and bowled by Harshit Rana when he was batting at 18 runs off 7 balls in RCB’s chase of 223. The dismissal came in the third over when Kohli played a high full toss outside his crease. Though the ball was above his waist height, Kohli made contact with it as it appeared to be dipping.
After firmly asserting that the ball was above waist height, Kohli promptly opted for a review to contest the legality of the delivery. However, the third umpire upheld the on-field umpire’s decision, deeming the ball to be legitimate. This ruling visibly angered the RCB batter, who seemed shocked and dismayed as he gestured towards the height of the ball while walking back to the dugout.
In response to this incident, AB de Villiers expressed his criticism, questioning the decision not to call a no-ball. He highlighted the presence of grey areas within the game’s rules, emphasizing confusion. He advocated for rectifying these issues, suggesting that decisions should consider the batter’s stance and incorporate ball-tracking technology. Even as the specific delivery in question was under review for a potential no-ball, the former RCB player reiterated the need to eliminate ambiguities in decision-making processes.
Before this incident, De Villiers had already voiced his concerns regarding third umpire decisions on wide balls, urging the use of “common sense” alongside technology.
“Forgot to clarify this in 360 live today. It’s got nothing to do with bad umpiring, rather common sense to use technology in a game already improved by it. Like the offside rule in football, draw lines and simplify the decision for wides (height, offside and leg-side). Line to be drawn as the batter enters the crease for height. If batter moves across the wide line obviously moves, but measure it and draw a line, don’t let the 3rd umpire have to thumb-suck the decision. Simple and effective,” De Villiers wrote on X.
“Grey areas in the game open up room for anger and confusion. It’s not a tough fix this. Get the batter’s stance, draw the lines and use ball tracking. No confusion whatsoever,” the 40-year-old added.
Grey areas in the game open up room for anger and confusion. It’s not a tough fix this. Get the batter’s stance, draw the lines and use ball tracking. No confusion whatsoever.
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) April 21, 2024
Also READ: WATCH- Virat Kohli livid with umpires over his controversial dismissal in KKR vs RCB clash | IPL 2024
Kohli’s performance in IPL 2024
Renowned batter Kohli currently holds the orange cap in this season’s IPL. Across 8 innings, he has amassed 379 runs at a strike rate of 150. Impressively, he has registered one century and two half-centuries during this campaign.
