Umpire Wide decision: Controversy arose over umpire Richard Kettleborough’s decision not to give wide.

Umpire Wide decision in Ind vs BAN: Team India gave a strong performance and registered its fourth consecutive win in the ICC World Cup 2023 by defeating Bangladesh by 7 wickets in the match played on Thursday (19 October). Virat Kohli played an important role in India’s victory. He scored his 48th ODI century and played an unbeaten inning of 103 runs.

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Despite Team India’s victory, a controversy arose over an umpire’s decision in the match. Fans’ opinions seemed divided regarding this decision.

Did the umpire not give wide for Kohli’s century?

Bangladeshi bowler Nasum Ahmed came to bowl the 42nd over of the Indian innings and at that time India needed 2 runs to win. Whereas Virat Kohli, playing on 97, needed 3 runs for his 48th century. Nasum bowled the first ball outside down the leg side, which would normally have been a wide ball. But umpire Richard Kettleborough did not give it wide. After this, Kohli completed his century by hitting a six-over long-on on the third ball of this over.

Controversy over Kettle Borough’s decision not to give wide

Controversy arose over umpire Richard Kettleborough’s decision not to give a wide. While some fans called it the right decision. Some accused the umpire of deliberately not giving wide to Kohli to complete his century.

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What do the rules say about wide?

Till now the ball leaving the leg side wicket was called wide. But in the modern era, batsmen change their batting stance even before the bowler bowls the ball, that is why rule 22.1 of MCC regarding wides was amended last year.

According to the new rule of wide, “Before declaring any ball wide, the field umpire will pay attention to the position of the batsman during the shot and will not give wide only on the basis of the distance of the ball from the wicket.”