India skipper Virat Kohli was blocked from reviewing a seemingly adjacent lbw shout at a crucial juncture of his side’s T20I against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground after he went over the 15-second time limit allotted for a review to be made, as well as the likelihood that the replay showed on the big screen at the ground influenced his decision.

The incident occurred in the 11th over of the Australia innings with Matthew Wade well set on 50 not out. A delivery from left-arm quick T Natarajan from over the wicket struck Wade on the pad and prompted an appeal for lbw from the India team, only for it to be rejected by umpire Rod Tucker. After a delay, Kohli asked to review the decision and at first glance, it looked as if the decision would be reviewed as normal.

Replays showed that Wade instantly objected to the review with the Australia opener heard saying: “He referred it off the big screen.” Fortunately for Wade, he was soon reprieved before the review reached its ball-tracking phase as TV umpire Paul Wilson quickly adjudicated that a replay had been shown on the big screen at the ground. Wilson was heard saying: “We can’t go through this review anymore, there’s now replays on the big screen. This is a null and void review.”

The ICC’s men’s T20I playing regulations stipulate that, “if the on-field umpires believe that the captain or either batsman has received direct or indirect input emanating other than from the players on the field, then they may at their discretion decline the request for a Player Review.” It adds: “No replays, either at normal speed or slow motion, shall be shown on a big screen to spectators until the 15-second time limit allowed for requesting a Player Review has elapsed.”

The host broadcaster later confirmed that the big screen replays were, in fact, shown after the time limit for the review had elapsed, and that Kohli’s review was made 17 seconds after the ball had gone dead, two more than what’s allowed.

Further replays showed that had the review been made in time, the on-field decision would have been overturned and Wade would have been dismissed for 50. Wade finished his innings on 80.