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'Absolutely disgusting': Fans fume over Virat Kohli controversy

andrew reid
·5-min read
Pictured left, the controversial LBW call that left RCB batter Virat Kohli fuming.
Virat Kohli's controversial LBW against Mumbai Indians left the RCB batter and fans fuming. Pic: IPL

Cricket fans have taken aim at the standard of umpiring and the Decision Review System (DRS) after a controversial incident involving Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman, Virat Kohli.

Kohli was incensed by a DRS review that denied the bater what looked like it was going to be a classy fifty in RCB's seven wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians.

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Kohli was unhappy to be given out lbw for 48 in the closing moments of the match, but his disappointment was nothing like the dismay the Indians will be feeling as they await a first win of the campaign.

Australia's Glenn Maxwell finished the match with successive fours as RCB crushed to 3-152 to secure victory with nine balls to spare.

However, it was the wicket of Kohli that left the former India captain and fans fuming after South African teenager Dewald Brevis slammed a ball into the batter's pads.

Kohli was stunned to see the umpire's finger go up and immediately reviewed the decision, certain that his bat had made contact with the ball.

TV umpire Ulhas Gandhe called on ultraedge to help him decide whether there was a slight edge off bat before the ball struck Kohli's pad.

“Ball is close to the bat as well as pad, it’s simultaneous,” Gandhe said.

Ball-tracking indicated that ball would have gone on to collect the stumps, with Gandhe instructing the umpire to stick with his original decision of 'out'.

Confused fans took to social media in disgust afterwards, insisting that the benefit of doubt should have gone to the batsman in the event of simultaneous contact between bat and pad.

A clearly furious Kohli could be seeing hitting at the ground with his bat as he stormed off back to the pavilion.

“Kohli doesn’t like it and I’ve got to say, question marks around it,” one commentator said.

“Furious. I don’t blame you, VK.”

Suryakumar Yadav heroics in vain for Mumbai

Mumbai began their innings brightly enough as Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma put on 50 for the first wicket. But once Rohit fell for 26, caught and bowled by Harshal Patel, it sparked a stunning collapse.

Dewald Brevis made eight, but he went with the score on 60, and it was soon 5-62 when Kishan (26), Tilak Varma (0) and Kieron Pollard (0) headed back to the dressing room.

When Ramandeep Singh was caught behind off Harshal by Dinesh Karthik, Mumbai were 6-79 and looking in all sorts until a vital cameo from the in-form Suryakumar Yadav (68 not out).

Seen here, Suryakumar Yadav in action for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
Suryakumar Yadav was a rare shining light in a disappointing Mumbai Indians innings. Pic: IPL

He set about carrying the team into three figures before cutting loose late on, taking three sixes off Mohammed Siraj in the 19th over before smashing Harshal for another maximum from the final ball of the innings.

Yadav then took the catch that broke up RCB's opening partnership, showing safe hands at long-on to remove Faf du Plessis for 16 and give Jaydev Unadkat an early wicket.

As with Mumbai, that first wicket fell with the score on 50, but RCB did not crumble as the Indians did.

Rawat impressed, while Kohli was dropped just inside the deep square leg boundary by Brevis off Basil Thampi at the start of the 15th over, the ball squirting away for four.

It was rather academic by then, and although Rawat fell to a smart piece of fielding by Ramandeep, and Kohli was unimpressed at being given out, RCB were soon home and hosed.

with agencies

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