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It’s not uncommon for players to voice their frustration over contentious umpiring decisions, especially in the heat of the moment. Virat Kohli, a prominent figure in cricket, responded to former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif’s social media post regarding the umpiring decision that led to his dismissal during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on Sunday (April 21).
Virat Kohli’s controversial dismissal
The dismissal of Kohli against Harshit Rana in the 3rd over sparked outrage as Kohli, who was out caught and bowled, believed it was a no-ball, citing the delivery’s height above the waist. However, Hawk-Eye Technology intervened, revealing that Kohli would have been not out had he played it from within the crease.
Kohli’s frustration erupt
With the veteran forced to walk back to the pavilion, he was spotted arguing with the umpires, with RCB’s skipper Faf du Plessis also visibly displeased with the decision and following suit. Kohli, incensed by the call, expressed his frustration to the umpires as he exited the field and even vented his anger by smashing the garbage can on the ground with his gloves while returning to the dugout. This display of emotion resulted in the RCB star being fined 50 percent of his match fee for his response on the day.
Also READ: IPL 2024: Here’s why Virat Kohli’s dismissal against KKR wasn’t given a no-ball
Mohammed Kaif expresses dissatisfaction: Compares with MS Dhoni
Opinions within the cricketing world have been divided regarding the dismissal, with Mohammed Kaif expressing clear dissatisfaction with the decision made on Sunday. The former cricketer, in his Instagram post, highlighted what he perceived as hypocrisy in the judgments of on-field umpires, drawing comparisons between situations involving Kohli himself and MS Dhoni. Kaif pointed out another instance when umpires had deemed a ball that went under Dhoni’s bat as wide.
“Clear unplayable beamer gets Kohli out and a ball that passed under Dhoni’s bat declared wide. Cameras, replays, technology but still such mistakes being made. Poor umpiring,”
Kohli’s response
Interestingly, Kohli, who is generally not known for expressing his thoughts on social media, has liked this post by Kaif. Kohli’s decision to endorse the post suggests his lingering frustration with the decision, adding momentum to the ongoing debate on the consistency and fairness of umpiring decisions in cricket. Notably, Kohli has been the leading run-scorer in the tournament so far, amassing 379 runs in 8 games.
Upcoming challenge for RCB
Despite their efforts, RCB faced a heartbreaking one-run defeat against KKR, leaving them at the bottom of the points table with just one victory in eight games. Their next challenge awaits against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on April 25. It’s a crucial match for RCB as they strive to turn their fortunes around and climb up the standings in the ongoing tournament.
