Virat Kohli livid with on-field umpires after being given out; smacks boundary rope with bat on his way out
Over the years, cricket has seen several on-field decisions that have created controversies later. Virat Kohli’s dismissal by Ajaz Patel was yet another classic example of it.
On Friday, India and New Zealand locked horns for the second and decisive test match of the two-match series in Mumbai. After a delayed start due to a wet outfield, India won the toss and decided to bat first. It was a smooth start for India until Ajaz Patel dismissed Shubman Gill in the 27th over of the game; this brought in Pujara, who scored another duck. As a result, with just 80 runs on the board, and 29 overs into the match, Virat Kohli was walking onto the pitch, all geared up for what fans expected to be his 72nd career century. However, today was not the day.
Kohli defended a ball close to his pad in the fourth ball of his inning, and New Zealand players emerged with a massive appeal. Without an iota of doubt in his mind, the umpire raised his finger, and Kohli was given out for a 4-ball duck. The skipper was not done yet, and he decided to review the decision.
Everyone held their nerve as the ultra edge showed a clear spike when the ball passed the bat. Although what made the umpire’s job hard was the fact that the ball was hitting the pad simultaneously. The visual showed the ball’s one half hitting the bat and the other hitting the pad. With several inconclusive replays, the umpire came to a conclusion that there was not enough evidence to overturn the on-field decision. Hence Virat Kohli was ruled out.
Kohli, who is known for his altercations with the umpires in the past, chatted with the on-field umpire before walking towards the pavilion. He was very disappointed with the decision and smashed the boundary cushions on his way out of the ground. Later, however, he was seen smiling in the dressing room, but the third umpire’s decision has stirred social media. Pundits and fans alike are giving their opinion on whether the ball hit the bat first or the pad.
