Virat Kohli slammed a superb century to information the Indian cricket group to a snug victory over Bangladesh within the Cricket World Cup 2023 on Thursday however a controversial choice by umpire Richard Kettleborough turned a serious speaking level after the match. With Kohli batting on 97 and India needing two runs to win, Bangladesh bowler Nassum Ahmed fired a supply in the direction of the leg stump. Kohli shuffled a bit in the direction of the stumps and the wicket-keeper collected it on the leg facet. However, the umpire determined to not award a large to India and as an alternative, the supply was judged to be a dot ball.

Kohli went on to attain his forty eighth ODI century with a large six simply two balls after this incident.

While followers had been left confused by the umpire’s choice to not award the large regardless of the wicket-keeper gathering the ball on the leg facet, the explanation was a rule change by Marylebone Cricket Club in 2022.

“In the modern game, batters are, more than ever, moving laterally around the crease before the ball is bowled. 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,” the amended rule stated.

The rule was brought in to make sure that bowlers are not punished for batters moving across the stumps just when the ball is delivered. As a result, Kohli’s batting stance kept him outside the line of the leg stump and when he shuffled across, the umpire judged it to be a change of position by the batter.