Explained: Richard Kettleborough's Controversial Decision To Not Award A Wide Off Nasum Ahmed When Virat Kohli Was On 97

It was four wins in four matches for India and the 48th ODI century for talisman batter Virat Kohli, who put up a dominant 103* off 96 balls to steer India clear ahead of Bangladesh in the ICC Cricket World Cup in Pune.

Kohli’s knock was nothing short of sensational. A pure classic in the making. Openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill both put up a solid partnership to start off the run chase. But, as always, it was the run-machine, the master of the chase, who came into the crease and took over the entire game.

READ: A Virat Kohli Hundred Which Felt Different

Kohli’s innings was carved out with aggressive intent and pure craftmanship with the bat as Virat did not fumble for a mere second throughout the entirety of his innings. Laced with sublime straight drives, thumping pull shots and his signature cover drives galore, Kohli put up 97 runs on the board in quick succession as India were well on their way to capture yet another victory.

With India two runs away from a win over Bangladesh in their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match in Pune on Friday, Bangladesh spinner Nasum Ahmed fired the first delivery of the 42nd over down the leg-side.

Virat Kohli, who was batting on 97, was left annoyed with the delivery as he left it alone. The umpire Richard Kettleborough didn’t signal it as wide though, held a smirk on his face as his arms stayed in place.

Afterwards, the decision hadn’t gone down well with several users on social media, arguing that it was infact Kettleborough who intentionally allowed Kohli to get his elusive third World Cup century.

However, upon closer inspection, one can see that it’s also possible that a change to the Laws of Cricket in 2022, which was actually brought in to aid bowlers, that played a part in helping Kohli last night.

In fact, a statement released by the MCC themselves in March 2022 stated, “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.”

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So, as per the newly proposed rule change, Nasum’s delivery would have been called a wide if it was to be known that the ball would not come in contact with Kohli, who took his stance across the leg side as the bowler came in for the delivery, and any part of his body.

But, given the wide open stance that Kohli assumed right as Nasum came charging in for his delivery, it may have been calculated by Kettleborough that that the delivery may have come in contact with Kohli, if it weren’t for all the lateral movement Virat involves in at the crease. And hence, this may be a reason behind why the delivery was not called for a wide.