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Virat Kohli refuses to take DRS despite inside edge and Gill's insistence; Rohit can't believe it: 'Bat laga tha yaar'

Sep 20, 2024 06:43 PM IST

Virat Kohli shockingly refused to opt for a DRS even as the replay showed a clear inside edge as the ball went past the bat, leaving everyone stunned.

Virat Kohli sparked a bit of controversy during the fag end of the second day of the 1st Test between India and Bangladesh in Chennai when the batting stalwart refused to take DRS despite there being a thick inside edge. Kohli was looking good, batting on 17 having struck two boundaries, and was set to take India safely through to stumps. However, with four overs left in the day, Kohli got out LBW to Mehidy Hasan Miraz leading to wild celebrations in the Bangladesh camp.

How do you explain this dismissal of Virat Kohli. Even Rohit Sharma was surprised.(Screengrab)
How do you explain this dismissal of Virat Kohli. Even Rohit Sharma was surprised.(Screengrab)

As umpire Richard Kettleborough raised his finger, Kohli immediately walked up to Shubman Gill at the non-striker's end, wanting to know his partner's perspective on the decision. Surprisingly, never one to shy away from taking a review, Kohli, after a brief chat, began walking back to the change room. As far as the naked eye could figure out looking at the television screen, Gill even mouthed 'le lo' (take it) to Kohli, but perhaps convinced he was caught in line of the stumps, Virat didn't waste much time.

But surprise, surprise. When the replay popped up on the big screen, to everyone's shock, a big spike was noticed on Ultra Edge – and a decent one at that – the moment the ball passed Kohli's bat, indicating there was bat involved. Was Kohli not aware of it? If anyone knows whether the ball has hit the bat or not it is the batter, Kohli in this case. Hence, for him to have not taken the DRS left everything in disbelief, including the on-air commentator and Kohli's former India head coach Ravi Shastri.

"Whoa! Only one person would have known. That is quite a spike there. He is not thinking of ball hitting the bat, that's for sure. He'll be really disappointed, was playing so well," Shastri said.

Could the ultra edge have erred? Or was it Kohli?

Of course, the Ultra Edge, like the ball tracking is not 100 percent accurate. But even if there was no edge, the spike should have been marginal. How could Kohli not have known? Well, irrespective, that was all from Kohli in the Chennai Test. Having scored six in the first innings and 17 here, his tally of runs in this series opener will be limited to 23.

Kohli's dismissal sent shockwaves in the Indian dressing room as well, as captain Rohit Sharma couldn't believe what he had seen. If anyone who's good at lip-reading saw Rohit, it was evident that he let out a sombre 'bat laga tha yaar' (There was bat involved dude).

This isn't the first time something like this has happened with Kohli. Another one of his similar brainfade moment dates back to the 2019 World Cup match between India and Pakistan in Manchester, when the then Indian captain fell to a similar dismissal. Well set for his century, Kohli was batting on 85 when he tried to waft a bouncer bowled by Mohammed Amir. The Pakistan team went up in appeal, umpire raised his finger and Kohli was on his way back. Things went on and after the next batter had taken strike, replay on the big screen showed that Kohli had in fact nicked it. At least back then, Kohli showed his frustration at missing out on DRS from the dressing room.

Kohli's dismissal meant that India head into stumps 81/3, with a solid lead of 308 runs over Bangladesh. A total of 17 wickets fell in the day - nine India's and 10 of Bengladesh. India resumed the day on 339/6 but could only add another 27 runs with Hasan Mahmud picking up his second Test five wicket haul and Taskin Ahmed chipping in with three wickets. India then made short work of the Bangladesh innings, dismissing them for 149, with Jasprit Bumrah leading the charge and finishing with 4/50. India's start to the second innings was slightly better than yesterday but Rohit Sharma endured another failure with the bat, while Jaiswal too perished for a low score. Gill, however, showed intent, remaining unbeaten on 33 in the company of Rishabh Pant.

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