Umpire Richard Kettleborough has faced significant backlash and criticism from non-Indian supporters and the media due to his decision not to call a wide during Virat Kohli’s century against Bangladesh in Pune.
India’s renowned cricketer, Virat Kohli, achieved his third ODI World Cup century, marking his first since the 2015 World Cup, during a match against Bangladesh in Pune on Thursday. He amassed an unbeaten score of 103 runs from 97 balls, leading India to victory with 8.3 overs remaining while chasing a target of 257 runs. The jubilation surrounding Kohli’s century and India’s win on social media was somewhat overshadowed as a section of fans and journalists criticized umpire Richard Kettleborough.
In a crucial moment, when India required only two runs to secure the victory, and Kohli was at a score of 97*, spinner Nasum Ahmed bowled a delivery outside the leg-stump. However, umpire Richard Kettleborough refrained from signaling it as a wide. Subsequently, Kohli hit a six to clinch the match and complete his century.
The wide rule underwent modifications in 2022, and in the context of the Virat Kohli controversy, umpire Richard Kettleborough’s decision not to call a wide was indeed accurate.
Amid the ongoing debate among fans regarding Richard Kettleborough’s decision, a closer examination of the cricket rulebook revealed that the MCC had made amendments to the regulations governing wide deliveries when a batsman moves or shuffles. These new rules, implemented in 2022, confirmed the accuracy of Richard Kettleborough’s decision not to call a wide.
In March 2022, the MCC introduced a fresh set of Laws governing wide calls, particularly when a batsman alters their position from their initial stance. A review of the video footage clearly indicated that Virat Kohli made a slight shuffle from his initial position. Put simply, had Kohli refrained from shuffling, the ball would likely have made contact with his leg or thigh. Consequently, Richard Kettleborough’s judgment in not labeling it as a wide delivery was correct.
“In the modern game, batters are, more than ever, moving laterally around the crease before the ball is bowled,”
read a statement from the MCC.
“It was felt unfair that a delivery might be called ‘Wide’ if it passes where the batter had stood as the bowler entered his/her delivery stride.
“Therefore, Law 22.1 has been amended so that a Wide will apply to where the batter is standing, where the striker has stood at any point since the bowler began their run up, and which would also have passed wide of the striker in a normal batting position.”