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[Watch] When Virat Kohli Confronted Umpires Over Hardik Pandya's Dismissal In IPL

image-lsafxeb7Virat Kohli (X.com)

Virat Kohli, the passionate former captain of the Indian cricket team, once locked horns with on-field umpires over a controversial DRS call that awarded a lifeline to Mumbai Indians all-rounder Hardik Pandya in a high-stake IPL game. 

Virat Kohli, then captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), was leading his side in an IPL game against Mumbai Indians back in 2018 when he had a heated confrontation with the on-field umpires. 

The incident occurred during the penultimate over of the MI innings when Hardik Pandya and skipper Rohit Sharma were gunning to finish on a high. 

Chris Woakes bowled a sharp-length delivery that beat Pandya as keeper Quinton de Kock collected the ball comfortably and appealed for a caught-behind dismissal.

The umpire ruled it out, but Hardik chose to ride on his luck and opted for a DRS review. Replays showed a little murmur on the ultra edge when the ball brushed past the bat.

However, in a shocking turn of events, the third umpire deemed it no contact between the bat and ball and requested the on-field umpire to reverse his decision to not out, thus awarding a lifeline to Pandya.

Meanwhile, a frustrated Virat Kohli lashed out at the umpires and protested against the third umpire's ruling. He firmly believed the edge was conclusive and the decision shouldn't have been reversed.

However, the on-field umpire's hands were tied, and he urged Kohli to stand down. But the latter was baffled and enraged and continued to express his dissent against the controversial DRS call.

That being said, Kohli's confrontation with the umpires was captured on camera and quickly circulated on social media, drawing widespread attention and debate among fans and pundits alike. 

It also reignited debates surrounding the role of technology, umpiring standards, and player conduct in shaping the outcome of professional cricket matches.