• Sportzyverse
• IPL 2024
• 04/22/2024
• 0 Comments

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) faced a significant moment in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) when Virat Kohli was dismissed for 18 runs off seven balls in the chase of 223 at Eden Gardens. Kohli’s dismissal came off a high full toss from KKR’s Harshit Rana, but despite initial concerns, the delivery was deemed legal for height. Here’s why the decision was made, according to the new Hawk-Eye technology implemented this season.

The Hawk-Eye Technology in Play

The IPL introduced a new Hawk-Eye ball tracking technology to adjudicate no-balls for height in 2024. In Kohli’s dismissal, the technology played a crucial role in determining whether the delivery was legal. The TV umpire Michael Gough used the technology to assess the height of the ball as it passed Kohli.

According to Hawk-Eye, the ball would have passed Kohli at 0.92 meters from the ground if he had been upright at the crease. Since Kohli’s measured waist height was 1.04 meters, the technology determined that the ball would have passed below his waist had he been on his crease. Therefore, the delivery was ruled legal, and Kohli was given out.

Kohli expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, and RCB captain Faf du Plessis also thought the delivery should have been called a no-ball for height. However, they accepted the decision based on the new technology.

Du Plessis stated, “Obviously, the rules are the rules. Virat and myself at that stage thought that possibly the ball was higher than his waist. I guess they measure it on the popping crease. In those situations, you’ll always have one team that’s happy and one team that doesn’t feel like it’s quite the right decision. But that’s just how the game works.”

Also read BCCI’s Innovative Technology Aims to Resolve Waist-High No-Ball Controversies

New Technology Aims to Eliminate Subjectivity

The IPL’s introduction of Hawk-Eye technology aims to remove subjectivity from decisions regarding no-balls above the waist. The technology measures the height of the ball as it passes the batter at the popping crease and compares it to the batter’s waist height when standing upright. If the ball is higher than the batter’s waist height, it’s declared a no-ball.

The use of Hawk-Eye technology in the IPL has brought a new level of precision and objectivity to decisions regarding no-balls for height. While Kohli and du Plessis were initially displeased with the decision, they ultimately accepted the ruling based on the new technology. As the IPL continues to innovate, such advancements are expected to enhance the fairness and integrity of the game.