RCB vs KKR: Why Virat Kohli's dismissal divided the internet. What ICC law states

Virat Kohli

The dismissal of Virat Kohli who was caught and bowled by Kolkata Knight Riders bowler Harshit Rana has divided the internet. The delivery which was a high full toss was hit by Kohli who was standing outside his crease and third umpire  Michael Gough gave it out saying that the ball was dipping on Virat.  The Hawk-Eye system that measures no-balls for height came into play when Kohli was dismissed for a seven-ball 18 during RCB's chase of 223 against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

According to the 3rd umpire, Virat Kohli was outside his crease.

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- It's a fair delivery or a No Ball according to you? pic.twitter.com/GkESFX73Nj

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 21, 2024

What does the law say?

According to the MCC Law 41.7.1 it  states that "any delivery that passes or would have passed, without pitching, beyond the waist height of the batter standing straight at the popping crease is an invalid delivery. The umpire shall call and indicate "No ball whenever such a delivery is delivered. A waist-high delivery is not a no-ball if the bowler is slower. Unless the speed is medium or fast, it must be significantly higher - over the shoulders - to constitute an illegal delivery.

The delivery, which seemed to be dipping on the batter, was just above the waist of Kohli when he made contact with the ball. The star batter was standing just outside the crease at that moment.

Then TV umpire Michael Gough checked for the height and as per the Hawk-Eye tracking, the ball would have passed Kohli's waist at a height of 0.92 meter had he was standing and upright at the crease.

In that position, Kohli's waist was measured at 1.04 meters, which meant the ball would have travelled past below the batter's waistline if he was standing inside the crease. In that case, this would have been a legal delivery and the Gough had to take call based on the available height reference.

However, Kohli was not having none of it as he left the field an agitated man after having an animated discussion with the on-field umpire. The frustrated Kohli knocked the waste-bin located near away team dressing room in anger.

Meanwhile, RCB Captain Faf Du Plessis in a post match interview  said, "Virat and myself thought that the ball was higher than the waist (on Kohli's dismissal), I guess they measured from the popping crease, one team thinks it's high, the other doesn't."