India v England

Virat Kohli gives away bizarre, angry overthrow after arguing with umpire over wide call

by Wisden Staff March 14, 2021 - 3:06pm 2 minute read

India captain Virat Kohli had a couple of balls to forget in the second T20I against England, conceding an overthrow in strange circumstances two deliveries after arguing with the umpire over a wide call given against Yuzvendra Chahal.

The wide came on what should have been the last ball of the ninth over, with England opener Jason Roy aiming a booming cut shot at the leg-spinner but failing to make contact. The delivery passed outside the tramlines and was given wide, despite Roy having moved towards the off-side before playing his stroke.

😭😂 pic.twitter.com/1bPQAnzObM

— Maara (@QuickWristSpin) March 14, 2021

Kohli protested the decision to no avail, and seemingly took his frustration out on the stumps on the first ball of the next over, bowled by Hardik Pandya. Jonny Bairstow played the ball gently into the leg-side, with Kohli collecting the ball near the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Though Bairstow was well in his ground, the India captain smashed the stumps with the ball in hand, doing so with such force that the ball came out of his hand and dribbled away, allowing the pair to run through for a second run.

There was mirth on social media discussing the incident. Australian cricket writer Jarrod Kimber said Kohli was “trying to out viral European Cricket”, in reference to the often amusing clips to come out of the amateur continental club competition.

Kohli trying to out viral @EuropeanCricket

— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) March 14, 2021

Wisden Almanack editor Lawrence Booth jokingly suggested that “cricket was the winner” in reply to a tweet from The Times cricket writer Elizabeth Ammon, who pointed out that Kohli had hurt his hand in the process.

Cricket was the winner.

— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) March 14, 2021

Watch the amusing moment below:

BUZZERS! Oh dear, Virat! 🙈😂

The India captain demolishes the stumps and inadvertently gives England a bonus run! 85-2. #INDvENG🇮🇳🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

📺 Watch 👉 https://t.co/bT0CP9Q8No
📱 Blog 👉 https://t.co/SWAtA8nssY
📋 Scorecard 👉 https://t.co/b1lzfdSxco pic.twitter.com/1s4TvrJUuQ

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) March 14, 2021

If that clip is geoblocked in your region, an extremely lo-fi version of the incident is available here: