After the umpire declined to indicate a ball down leg as wide during India’s World Cup match against Bangladesh, Harbhajan Singh said that Richard Kettleborough may have also wanted to see Virat Kohli make a century.
On Thursday, India defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune in the 2023 World Cup match. As Virat Kohli reached his century at the conclusion of the game, there was an odd incident that sparked a full-fledged argument on social media.
Nasum Ahmed, Bangladesh’s left-arm spinner, bowled the opening ball of the 42nd over. Many thought it was a clean wide, but the umpire did not extend his arms to declare it. As a consequence, it was determined that it was a legitimate delivery. Kohli came down the track and smashed the bowler for a maximum in the same over. With the hit, the Indian hitter completed his century and helped his side cross the finish line.
Harbhajan Singh, speaking to India Today after the match, made light of Kettleborough’s decision not to flag a wide to a ball delivered down leg. He admitted that the ball appeared to be a wide delivery and He said,
“Well, I think that wide ball was actually, you know, it was quite wide. Nevertheless, let’s leave that aside. I think Virat Kohli batted beautifully. You know, maybe not just the Indians, but the umpire also wanted to see Virat Kohli getting that century. That was probably the reason, but it is good to see him in such form.”
“He is batting so beautifully. And he got that brilliant 100 for India. And that’s what makes everyone happy. No complaint on why it was not given wide whatsoever.”
Harbhajan Singh
Virat Kohli hit six fours and four sixes in his 103* from 97 balls. His ODI century on Thursday was his 48th, putting him only one behind Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI hundreds.
Gill’s reaction to Nasum Ahmed’s wide delivery on Virat Kohli
Aside from umpire Kettleborough, other fans questioned Nasum’s move, questioning if the Bangladesh bowler had intentionally sent a delivery down leg to deprive Virat Kohli a century.
However, in a post-match news conference, opener Shubman Gill downplayed the dispute and defended the Bangladesh left-arm spinner.
“I don’t know if he intentionally tried to bowl wide or he was just trying to keep it tight and then went away.”
Shubman Gill
Before Kohli’s century, Gill (53) and Rohit Sharma (48) got India off to a flying start in their 257-run chase, contributing 88 for the first wicket.