Royal Challengers Bengaluru star Virat Kohli has been handed a fine of 50% of his match fees for showing dissent towards the umpire's decision after getting dismissed during the Kolkata Knight Riders vs RCB game at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, April 21. Kohli was seen arguing with the umpire following his dismissal off a high full-toss that seemed a no-ball to many people. However, the delivery was deemed a fair delivery by the third umpire.
KKR bowler Harshit Rana dismissed Kohli off a slow full-toss that Kohli played above his waist outside of his crease. He defended the ball that went up in the air as Rana ran and took the catch with ease. Kohli immediately went for the review but it was already an umpire's review. The third umpire took a look at the ball and deemed it to be a fair one.
Notably, the broadcaster Star Sports also gave a clarification of the rules of waist-high no-balls. "Virat was indeed out as per the official rule book. The rule states that for a delivery to be considered a no ball, the ball must be at waist height as it crosses the stepping crease. In Kohli's situation, while the ball was at waist height when he encountered it, as it crossed the stepping crease, it was below waist height, making it a fair delivery basis the official rule," Star Sports wrote on social media with a photo of the Hawk eye trajectory of Kohli's dismissal.
As seen in the picture shared by the Broadcaster, Kohli's waist height was 1.04m had he been standing upright at the popping crease. The ball is considered a no-ball if it is waist-high at the popping crease but it was at 0.92m at the crease, which made it a legal delivery. The clarification states that if Kohli would have been standing upright at his crease, the ball would have been below his waist as per the trajectory seen.
According to rule 41.7.1 of the MCC, "Any delivery, which passes or would have passed, without pitching, above waist height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease, is unfair. Whenever such a delivery is bowled, the umpire shall call and signal No ball."
In Kohli's case, he was standing outside of his crease.
