Virat Kohli’s decision not to review an LBW decision against him in the second innings of the first Test against Bangladesh sparked controversy and became a major talking point on social media. The incident occurred when Kohli was trapped by Bangladesh spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 17 runs. Umpire Richard Kettleborough raised his finger in favor of the bowler, but Kohli opted against reviewing the decision.
However, replays later revealed that there was an inside edge on the ball, which even Kohli was unaware of. This costly error left Indian captain Rohit Sharma visibly baffled, as he appeared frustrated with Kohli’s decision not to take the DRS review. Kettleborough, on the other hand, couldn’t help but smile upon realizing that the star Indian batter had made a blunder.
During the final innings of the first Test, Kohli approached Kettleborough for a brief conversation. The umpire’s comment, accompanied by a pat on Kohli’s back, left the Indian skipper laughing uncontrollably. Although the video capturing this interaction quickly spread across social media platforms, the absence of audio made it impossible to discern the exact words exchanged between the two.
Kohli’s decision not to review the LBW decision has been widely criticized by experts and fans alike. Many believe that it was a reckless and impulsive decision that cost India a crucial wicket. However, some have defended Kohli’s decision, arguing that he may have felt confident that he had not hit the ball.
Despite the controversy surrounding Kohli’s decision, India managed to close in on victory in the first Test thanks to centuries from opener Shubman Gill and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant. Bangladesh started their chase of 515 runs briskly but lost wickets to reach 158-4 when bad light stopped play on day three. The visitors still need 357 runs for a win.
