IPL 2025: Potential Case of Obstructing the Field against Virat Kohli by DC?
Let's Talk IPL:
Virat Kohli nearly walked a tightrope during RCB's IPL match against Delhi Capitals, potentially facing a dismissal for obstructing the field. The high-stakes encounter unfolded at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on April 27.
The two teams clashed for their second encounter of the season, after DC snatched victory in Bengaluru on April 10.
DC vs RCB Showdown
Here's a quick recap:
- Over Ball-by-ball Breakdown
DC won the toss and were sent in by RCB captain Rajat Patidar. After a brisk start by Abishek Porel, their innings faltered during the middle overs, with Faf du Plessis and KL Rahul struggling to find their rhythm. Rahul managed a score of 41 before being dismissed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the 17th over. It was Tristan Stubbs (34 runs off 18 balls) who boosted DC's total to 162-8.
Jacob Bethell started the chase well on his IPL debut, but both he and Devdutt Padikkal were removed by DC skipper Axar Patel in the third over. The following over, Rajat Patidar was run out by Karun Nair, leaving RCB at a shaky 26-3, with Krunal Pandya joining the fray.
At 35-3 after six overs, leg spinner Vipraj Nigam came on to bowl. His first ball landed on a length, and was pushed by Virat Kohli to midwicket. Neither batsman took a run, and this is where things got interesting...
As the throw came in from the midwicket fielder to wicketkeeper KL Rahul, Kohli reached out to catch it and return it to the bowler for the next delivery. Kuldeep Yadav, stationed inside the 30-yard circle, jokingly appealed for Kohli to be out, laughing even as he made the gesture.
Were the Jokes on Kohli?
While the situation seemed lighthearted, Kohli might have found himself in hot water. Had Kuldeep (or any other member of the fielding team) made a genuine appeal to the umpires, Kohli could have been given out for obstructing the field. According to clause 37.4 of the IPL Playing Conditions, "Either batter is out Obstructing the field if, at any time while the ball is in play and, without the consent of a fielder, he uses the bat or any part of his person to return the ball to any fielder."
Kohli's argument could have been that the ball was already dead before he caught it. But had an appeal come in, it wouldn't have been, as the ball would neither have been settled in the wicketkeeper's gloves, nor would the fielding team have regarded the ball as having ceased to be in play - potentially making him liable to be out for obstruction.
This isn't the first time Kohli has played with fire when it comes to obstruction. During the Champions Trophy earlier this year, he similarly intercepted a throw against Pakistan, with Sunil Gavaskar commenting on air that he was "lucky nobody appealed."
In the end, Kuldeep may have wished his appeal was more serious. Kohli was on 15 at the time, but he went on to anchored RCB's chase with a knock of 51.
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Related Tags:
- Obstructing the field in IPL
- Law 37 in cricket
- Consequences for obstructing the field
- Virat Kohli obstruction incident
- IPL Playing Conditions
Enrichment Data:
Consequences for Obstructing the Field in IPL Playing Conditions:
In cricket, including the Indian Premier League (IPL), obstructing the field is governed by the laws of the game, specifically Law 37. This law states that if a batter willfully obstructs a fielder by word or action during play, they can be given out. The penalty involves the umpire declaring the batter out, which means they must leave the field without adding any further runs to their tally. The opposing team does not receive credit for a wicket, but the batter's dismissal is recorded as "obstructing the field." There is no specific mention of further penalties like fines in the standard cricket laws, but IPL might impose disciplinary actions depending on the severity of the obstruction.
Did Virat Kohli Face Any Penalty?
There is no publicly available information regarding any penalties faced by Virat Kohli for incidents involving obstructing the field during an IPL game against Delhi Capitals. If such an incident occurred, any penalties would typically be announced through official cricket news channels or IPL communications. However, based on the information available, there is no evidence of any penalties being imposed.
- In the IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Delhi Capitals, Virat Kohli nearly faced a dismissal for obstructing the field, a situation that could have resulted in a penalty according to IPL Playing Conditions.
- Kohli's interaction with Kuldeep Yadav during the match highlighted the consequences of obstructing the field in the Indian Premier League (IPL), a violation governed by Law 37 of cricket.
- Despite the tense moment, Kohli successfully anchored RCB's chase with a knock of 51, demonstrating his resilience amid potential obstruction controversies.
