Harbhajan Singh weighs in on Virat Kohli’s contentious dismissal by Kolkata Knight Riders: ‘If the ball had been bowled with pace…’

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh weighed in on Virat Kohli’s contentious dismissal during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, supporting the umpire’s decision. Kohli’s fiery knock of 18 off 7 balls was cut short by a catch off a full toss from Harshit Rana, initially appearing as a beamer.

Harbhajan explained, “When Virat Kohli got out, the ball was high. It was a slower delivery. There was a lot of debate about whether it should be deemed as no ball because the ball was above the waistline. Virat was standing outside the crease and when you are that far hawkeye measures the waistline from the popping crease (the white line).”

“This year BCCI has measured the height of each player and if the ball passes above the waistline then it is given a no ball if not then the decision is not given,” the former India international added.

He further elaborated, “The ball was going to dip because it was a slower one. If the ball was bowled with pace, it could have been a no ball. He was given out according to the rule. I believe that the ball would have dipped if he had stayed in the crease.”

Reacting to the dismissal, Kohli contested the decision with visible frustration, even resorting to hitting a trash can with his gloves as he walked back to the pavilion after his dismissal.

RCB skipper Faf du Plessis also chimed in, stating, “Obviously, the rules are the rules. Virat and myself at that stage thought that possibly the ball was higher than his waist. I guess they measure it on the popping crease… In those situations, you’ll always have one team that’s happy and one team that doesn’t feel like it’s quite the right decision. But that’s just how the game works.”