IPL 6: Virat Kohli was right in not calling back Ambati Rayudu

FILE PHOTO: Virat Kohli

Much has been made of Virat Kohli‘s supposed ‘cheat’ act against Mumbai Indians. In my opinion, there was nothing ‘unsporting’ on Virat’s part. It was due to Rayudu not being alert that he got out. Like Virat said, you can’t lose focus when you play this game. If you do, you will pay, and that’s what Rayudu did.

How is it Virat’s fault that he is a really good fielder and that Rayudu was backing up too far at that moment? Or how is it Vinay Kumar’s fault that he was doing his job, which was to back up to the wickets as the bowler when there was no fielder there?

If there was some problem with the run-out, either of the umpires, Asad Rauf or Sudhir Asnani wouldn’t have declared him out. But they did, and Virat had no business to call him back. He was not responsible for Rayudu’s mistake.

It was not right on the crowd’s part to call him a ‘cheat’ for that.

And as far as the comparison to MSD is concerned, there was an incident during the India tour of England for the four match Test series, I remember it very well. It was the Day 3 of the second Test and on the last ball before Tea, Ian Bell walked off the crease thinking the ball had been hit for four by Eoin Morgan, before the umpire officially signalled the tea break. India removed the bails and he was given run out. But MSD decided to call him back during the tea break and he came back to add a few more to his total.

There was also another similar incident, when MSD didn’t call back the batsman. He said it’s not his job, when asked about it.

Same way, it’s not Virat’s job to call back the batsman.

“The crowds in India are rather passionate about cricket,” is a defence given for this behaviour. True, my friend. But the actions of those fans was not “passion for the game”.

“Passion for cricket” is when you give a standing ovation to Richard Levi, opener for the Mumbai Indians after he smashed the Chennai Super Kings bowlers all over the park in CSK’s den. “Passion for cricket” was shown when the crowd gave a standing ovation for Sachin Tendulkar when he got out on a duck, playing for the Mumbai Indians, in the home game for the Chennai Super Kings. “Passion” for cricket”, was when the fans cheered so much for the opposition captain, Virat Kohli on that instance, that he had some smiles and dance moves to showcase.

Sure, there’s always a little crowd of people who are unsporting and jeer the opposition too, they’re there in every stadium, but the size of that crowd is very little, unlike on that instant in Wankhede, where the spirit of cricket went missing.

After all, it’s a gentleman’s game at the end of the day.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the opinion of the author and not the site.