What Happened When Kohli Faced Archer’s Short Ball?

The Moment Everyone Was Talking About

In a cricket match, something tricky happened when Virat Kohli was batting against England. Here’s what went down in simple words:

• Jofra Archer (an England bowler) threw a ball that was a bit short and bounced up.
• Kohli tried to hit it with a "pull" shot (swinging the bat sideways to hit a short ball).
• He didn’t have much space, so he looked squeezed.
• The ball may have touched the very bottom edge of his bat.
• It also passed super close to his right thigh.

The Players Thought It Was Out

• Jos Buttler (the England wicketkeeper) and Archer both believed Kohli had hit the ball with his bat.
• Because they were sure, England asked the umpires to check it using a replay. This is called a review.

What The Replay Showed

The review used slow-motion video and a sound check. Here is what they found:

1. The sound check showed a small “spike” (a noise) as the ball went past the bat — this means the ball did touch the bat a tiny bit (an edge).
2. But the video replays showed the ball bounced on the ground right before Buttler caught it.
3. In cricket, if the ball touches the ground before the catch is made, it is not out.

Important Point: Even though Kohli edged the ball, the catch was not fair because the ball hit the ground first. That’s why he got to keep batting!

Summary

Kohli faced a short ball from Archer and might have edged it. England reviewed the decision because they thought he was out. The replay proved there was a small edge, but the ball bounced before the catch, so Kohli was safe and continued his innings.

FAQ

Q1: What does “edged” mean in cricket?
A: It means the ball touched the side or edge of the bat instead of the middle.

Q2: Why did England do a review?
A: Because they believed Kohli hit the ball and was caught, and they wanted the umpires to check with video and sound.

Q3: Why wasn’t Kohli given out?
A: The ball bounced on the ground before the catch was completed, and a catch is only valid if the ball doesn’t touch the ground first.

Q4: What is a “short of a length” ball?
A: It’s a ball that bounces a little closer to the batter, making it harder to hit comfortably.