Virat Kohli fined 50 per cent of match fee following angry outburst at umpires during KKR-RCB clash

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• Apr 22, 2024 | Guriya Khatun

Virat Kohli's punishment came soon after Mumbai Indians skipper Faf du Plessis' Rs 12 lakh fine for an over-rate offence during Sunday's same match. 

Digital Desk: RCB star batsman Virat Kohli faced a fine for his furious outburst fired at the on-field umpires on Sunday during their away match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata against KKR. For expressing disagreement with the umpire's ruling and challenging a judgment that resulted in his dismissal during RCB's fruitless chase, Kohli was fined 50% of his match money. 

According to Article 2.8 of the IPL's Code of Conduct, Kohli committed a Level 1 offense. He acknowledged the offense and consented to the Match Referee's punishment. The judgment of the Match Referee is final and binding for Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, according to an IPL statement.

KKR vs RCB, IPL 2024 Highlights

Virat Kohli's punishment came soon after Mumbai Indians skipper Faf du Plessis' Rs 12 lakh fine for an over-rate offence during Sunday's same match. 

Importantly, when Virat Kohli was declared out of the game in the third over of their 223-run chase against KKR, both Faf du Plessis and Kohli seemed unhappy. The bone of contention was Harshit Rana's full-toss which appeared to be waist-high. The slower one bowled by KKR's fast bowler caught Kohli by surprise as the RCB opener was caught and bowled after a leading edge ballooned into the night sky.

When the ball struck Virat Kohli's bat about waist height, he was surprised that the on-field umpires did not signal a no-ball. The third umpire, who followed the call made by the on-field umpires, was sent the decision by the on-field umpires. 

Feeling that he was wronged by the decision, Kohli was furious. With the Orange Cap on his head, the star batter turned around and had another intense conversation with the two on-field umpires before making the long walk back to the dressing room.

Following his two-over boundary and no-look six from Mitchell Starc, Kohli was trying to put more pressure on the KKR bowling attack. As RCB were rocked early in their massive chase, Faf du Plessis also accompanied the former captain to the dressing room after Kohli had been dismissed after only seven balls, scoring eighteen. 

CONTROVERSY OVER KOHLI DISMISSAL 

 Many pundits argued that the Harshit Rana delivery ought to have been ruled a no-ball, even though replays and images from the third umpire's evaluation of the ruling showed that the ball was legal.

The ball seemed to have struck Kohli's bat above his waist while he was standing well outside the popping crease. But in accordance with ICC regulations, the third umpire considered the delivery's dip and the height at which Kohli would have been struck by the ball had he been at the popping crease.

REGARDING WAIST-HIGH NO-BALLS, WHAT DO THE ICC RULES SAY?

Rule 41.7 of the ICC regulations pertaining to "Bowling of dangerous and unfair non-pitching deliveries" states that any delivery that would have passed, without pitching, above the waist height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease is to be considered unfair, regardless of the striker's likelihood of suffering a physical injury. The umpire must call and indicate "No ball" right away if the bowler makes a delivery of that nature.

Celebrity analyst and former cricket player Navjot Singh Sidhu criticized the restrictions, labelling them as oppressive and stating that they ought to be examined and repealed as soon as possible.

"I'll beat my chest and say that it was a not out. Rules have been changes, draconian laws have been changed. The laws need to be made in the benefit of the game. Look at the point of contact where he is standing, when a bowler delivers a beamer, they apologise. The point of contact with the bat is 1.5 ft above the line, this rule has to change. That decision changed the whole game," Sidhu said on Star Sports while commentating on the game.

Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar's fifty-plus scores helped RCB keep ahead of the asking rate even after losing Kohli and Du Plessis early. But the pursuit was derailed when Sunil Narine and Andre Russell took two wickets apiece in the space of two overs. RCB missed the goal by 2 runs despite a late-over blitz from Karn Sharma. 

With only one victory in their last eight games, RCB is rooted at the bottom of the points standings.