New Technology Explains Why Kohli's Dismissal Wasn't a No-Ball

During the match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), a contentious decision regarding Virat Kohli's dismissal sparked debate. Kohli was caught and bowled off a high full toss from Harshit Rana, raising questions about whether it should have been deemed a no-ball due to its height.

The new Hawk-Eye technology for tracking no-balls came into play to determine the legality of the delivery. Upon review, it was revealed that while the ball seemed to be dipping on the batter, it would have passed below Kohli's waist had he been on his crease, making it a legal delivery. The height of the ball was measured against the recorded height of Kohli's waist, confirming that it was not above waist height.

This season, the IPL introduced technology to remove the subjective element in adjudicating no-balls above the waist. The height of the ball as it passes the batter at the popping crease is measured and compared against the recorded height of the batter's waist. If the ball's height exceeds the recorded waist height of the batter, it is declared a no-ball.

Despite Kohli's disagreement with the decision, RCB captain Faf du Plessis acknowledged that while one team may be unhappy with the ruling, the rules are the rules, and such decisions are inherent to the game.

The introduction of technology aims to provide more accurate and objective assessments of contentious decisions, enhancing the integrity of the game and reducing disputes over umpiring decisions.