Virat Kohli's controversial dismissal: Fans, former cricketers remain divided. Check out top reactions buzzing on social media

RCB's Virat Kohli against KKR in an IPL match

The controversial dismissal of RCB's Virat Kohli against KKR while chasing a target of 223 runs has opened a can of worms among cricket pundits and fans on whether or not Harshit Rana's delivery to get the star batter out was legal.

The Hawk-Eye system that measures no-balls for height came into play here when Kohli was dismissed for a seven-ball 18 during RCB's chase of 223 against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

While cricketers like Navjot Sidhu and former RCB player AB de Villiers were not happy with Virat being given out, others like Irfan Pathan came out in support of the bowler stating that the delivery was legal.

Navjot Sidhu who is in the panel of commentators said on air, "You want to get Virat Kohli out throwing a beamer and want me to welcome it, not at all. 'Chaati thok ke kehta hun he was not out and this is not good for the spirit of the game.

Sidhu say virat is not out .

not better umpiring. #ViratKohli #KKRvRCB #shameless pic.twitter.com/51UVB5NZQw

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— Jaani_panjokhra  (@jaani_panjokhra) April 21, 2024

AB de Villiers wrote in a post on X, "Forgot to clarify this in 360 live today. It’s got nothing to do with bad umpiring, but rather common sense to use technology in a game already improved by it. Like the offside rule in football, draw lines and simplify the decision for wides(height, offside and leg-side). Line to be drawn as the batter enters the crease for height. If batter moves across the wide line obviously moves, but measure it and draw a line, don’t let the 3rd umpire have to thumb-suck the decision. Simple and effective".

For goodness sake, PLEASE just clarify the wide ruling in Cricket! Really not so difficult.. We have technology, let’s use it properly. No need for thumb-sucking surely

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— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) April 20, 2024

Mohammad Kaif also posted his views on Virat's dismissal on X and wrote,"  It's an unfair call. If the ball is waist high at the time bat meets ball it should ruled as no ball. Also I have always felt that the ball tracking shows a sharper dip."

My take on Virat Kohli dismissal: It's an unfair call. If the ball is waist high at the time bat meets ball it should ruled as no ball. Also I have always felt that the ball tracking shows a sharper dip.

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 21, 2024

Virat Kohli absolutely furious with the umpires. pic.twitter.com/2KuSnxYnNv

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 21, 2024

Meanwhile, former Indian all-rounder came out to support the bowler and posted on X," It was a legal ball."

It was a legal ball.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 21, 2024

Earlier, 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 been 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 a call based on the available height reference.