Virat Kohli, the key player for RCB in batting, got in trouble for getting visibly upset with the umpires during their match against KKR at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. He had to pay a fine, which was half of his match fee, because he disagreed loudly with one of the umpire’s decisions that led to him being out during RCB’s attempt to chase the target.
According to the IPL’s rules, this was considered a Level 1 offense under Article 2.8 of their Code of Conduct. Kohli accepted his mistake and the penalty given by the Match Referee, as per the IPL’s statement. For Level 1 breaches like this, the Match Referee’s decision is final and cannot be disputed.
Virat Kohli Fined 50% of His Match Fee
Virat Kohli, a key player for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, was fined half of his match fees for breaking the rules during an IPL 2024 game against Kolkata Knight Riders at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. This happened on Sunday. He violated a Level 1 rule stated in Article 2.8 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct. Kohli accepted his mistake and the punishment given by the Match Referee.
The statement mentioned that for Level 1 violations, the Match Referee’s decision is final. Kohli got into a heated argument with the on-field umpires following a disputed dismissal.
Why Virat Kohli Penalized 50% of His Match Fee?
Virat Kohli received a penalty right after RCB captain Faf du Plessis got fined Rs 12 lakh for a slow over-rate during the same match in Kolkata on Sunday.
Both Kohli and du Plessis were upset when Kohli got out in the 3rd over of their chase against KKR. The issue was with Harshit Rana’s full-toss, which seemed too high. Kohli was caught off guard by KKR’s fast bowler’s slower delivery, resulting in him getting caught and bowled after a leading edge flew high into the air.
Virat Kohli couldn’t believe it when the umpires missed calling a no-ball even though the ball hit his bat around the waist height. They passed the decision to the third umpire, who agreed with them and declared Kohli out.
Kohli was furious because he thought the decision was unfair. The top batsman, currently holding the Orange Cap, initially headed towards the dressing room but turned back to argue with the on-field umpires before finally leaving.
Kohli wanted to keep up the pressure on the KKR bowling attack after hitting Mitchell Starc for an impressive no-look six and a boundary in the 2nd over. Unfortunately, he got out after scoring 18 runs off 7 balls, followed by Faf du Plessis, which put RCB in a tough spot early in their big chase.
Also Read: IPL 2024 New Rules
Controversy Over Umpire Decision
After reviewing the replay, the third umpire concluded that the ball was legal, despite some experts believing it should have been called a no-ball. Kohli was positioned beyond the popping crease, and the ball seemed to make contact with his bat above his waist.
However, the ICC rules state that the umpire considered the delivery’s trajectory and where it would have hit Kohli if he was within the popping crease.
ICC Rules on Waist-High No-Balls
Under ICC regulations, any delivery that goes above the waist height of the batsman without touching the ground is considered unfair, regardless of whether it poses a threat of injury. If a bowler does this, the umpire will call a no ball immediately.
Navjot Singh Sidhu, a former cricketer, criticized these rules, calling them harsh and suggesting they should be reviewed and changed soon.
He argued, “I strongly believe it wasn’t out. Rules change, and harsh laws should too. Rules should benefit the game. When a bowler delivers a beamer, they feel sorry. The point where the bat connects is too high; this rule needs to be adjusted. That decision changed the game completely.”
Despite early setbacks, RCB managed to keep up with the required run rate with Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar scoring fifties. However, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine’s two wickets each in two overs disrupted their momentum. Despite a late effort from Karn Sharma, RCB fell short of the target by 2 runs.
RCB is currently at the bottom of the points table with just one win in eight matches.
Virat Kohli Fined 50% of His Match Fee FAQs
Q.1. Why was Virat Kohli fined during the IPL match?
Ans. Kohli was fined 50% of his match fee for disputing an umpire’s decision during an IPL 2024 match against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Q.2. What was the level of Virat Kohli’s offense according to IPL rules?
Ans. Kohli’s offense was considered a Level 1 breach under Article 2.8 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct.
Q.3. Did Virat Kohli accept the penalty?
Ans. Yes, Kohli accepted his mistake and the punishment given by the Match Referee as per the IPL’s statement.
Q.4. What sparked the dispute between Kohli and the umpires?
Ans. Kohli’s dispute with the umpires arose after a disputed dismissal during RCB’s chase against KKR, where Kohli felt a no-ball was missed.
Q.5. What is RCB’s current standing in the IPL 2024 season?
Ans. RCB is currently at the bottom of the points table with just one win from eight matches in the IPL 2024 season.
