On Thursday (October 19), Indian cricket supporters erupted after umpire Richard Kettleborough did not award a wide while Virat Kohli was batting on 97* against Bangladesh.
The event happened at the conclusion of India’s 2023 World Cup match against Bangladesh at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. The Men in Blue needed two runs to win, while Virat Kohli had 97 runs on the board.
Nasum Ahmed, a left-arm spinner from Bangladesh, came in to deliver the 42nd over. He bowled the first delivery down the leg side, and Virat Kohli swung away from it, unable to do anything. The ball appeared to be wide, but the on-field umpire, Richard Kettleborough, did not flag a wide, and the ball became a dot.
Kohli smashed a six off a full toss after another ball to complete his 48th ODI century. India won the match by seven wickets and maintained their unblemished record in the present World Cup.
Fans expressed their reactions on Richard Kettleborough’s umpiring decision in favor of Virat Kohli on X. Here are a few of the best:
I wanted to finish it off this time and hang on till the end: Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli highlighted his intention to significantly improve his team’s performance in a post-game interview. As he said:
“I wanted to make a big contribution. I’ve had a few fifties in World Cups and I haven’t really converted them so I wanted to finish it off this time and hang on till the end. I was telling Shubman even if you dream about a situation like that, you don’t go back to sleep. It was a dream to start with a four and a six.”
“I was just looking to hit the gaps, run hard and get the boundaries whenever needed. It’s a great atmosphere in the change room. We’re loving each other’s company, the spirit is there for everyone to see.”
Virat Kohli
On Sunday, October 22, at Dharamsala, India will play its next opponent, New Zealand.