The high-voltage India versus Pakistan T20 World Cup 2022 encounter at MCG on Sunday (October 23) witnessed a controversy in the final over when Mohammad Nawaz’s high full-toss was clobbered for a six over square leg by Virat Kohli.
After Kohli protested that it should be called a no ball for being above waist, the umpires made a late decision and declared it a no ball.
The subsequent free-hit delivery also triggered a debate as the ball hit the stumps and then deflected, allowing the Indian batters to take three crucial runs.
While some fans and experts are still arguing that it should have been a dead delivery as the ball slammed into the sticks, former ICC elite panel umpire Simon Taufel explained why on-field umpires Rid Tucker and Marais Erasmus made the 'right decision'.
“After the exciting climax to the India v Pakistan match at the MCG last night, l've been asked by many to explain the Byes that India scored after Kohli was bowled off the free hit,” Taufel wrote on social media.
The ex-Australian umpire cited ICC's playing condition to vindicate that it was an appropriate call.
“The umpire made the right decision in signalling Byes after the batters ran three following the ball hitting the stumps and rolling down to 3rd man. For a free hit, the striker cannot be out bowled and therefore the ball is NOT dead on hitting the stumps - the ball is still in play and all conditions under the Laws for Byes are satisfied,” he added.
Talking about the last over, India needed 16 runs from it against Mohammad Nawaz. While the left-arm spinner dismissed Hardik Pandya (40 off 37 balls) on the very first delivery, Kohli didn’t lose his composure and smashed him for a six and then ran three to put his team on the brink of victory.
On the fifth ball, Dinesh Karthik got out stumped but then Nawaz ended up bowling wide which tied the game while R Ashwin lofted the last delivery over mid-off to seal the deal for India with four wickets in hand.
Virat Kohli eventually remained unbeaten on 82 off 53 balls (6 fours and 4 sixes) and earned the Player of the Match award.
