Had Pakistan appealed, Virat Kohli might have been given out obstructing the field in the Champions Trophy 2025 India vs Pakistan game at Dubai.
Pakistan were bowled out for 241 in 49.4 overs after Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and opted to bat. Saud Shakeel (62) and Rizwan (46) had taken them to 151-2 in the 34th over, but they kept losing wickets at regular intervals until a late surge from Khushdil Shah (38 in 39 balls). For India, Kuldeep Yadav claimed 3-40 and Hardik Pandya 2-31.
In response, Shaheen Shah Afridi yorked Rohit Sharma (20 in 15 balls) just when he was threatening to look dangerous. Coming into the game with two consecutive hundreds (and two fifties in the innings before that), Shubman Gill made 46 in 52 balls before Abrar Ahmed bowled him with a peach.
Kohli, meanwhile, had settled down to become the quickest to 14,000 runs in ODIs. He then continued, with Shreyas Iyer for company. India were 114-2 in the 21st over when Haris Rauf ran in to bowl.
Match 5, Pakistan vs India
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What did Kohli do?
Kohli pushed the ball towards extra-cover and set off for a single. By the time the throw had come in, Kohli was not only safely in but had also crossed the stumps at the non-striker’s end. For some reason, he stopped the incoming throw with his hand. Replays revealed that there was no one backing up the throw.
“He stopped the ball with his hand,” reacted an unhappy Sunil Gavaskar on air. “If the Pakistanis appealed – they didn’t – it could be obstructing the field. Maybe there was nobody backing up also at that stage. Maybe there could have been an extra run over there.
“Have a look, there’s nobody backing up. The fielder at mid wicket would have had to dive [to stop the overthrow] ... There was no need for him [Kohli] to interfere with the progress of the ball. He’s lucky nobody has appealed.”
“And here I was, raving about his game awareness,” responded Ramiz Raja.
Did Kohli obstruct the field - what does the law say?
Had Pakistan appealed, would Kohli have been given out?
As per Law 37.4, “Either batter is out Obstructing the field if, at any time while the ball is in play and, without the consent of a fielder, he/she uses the bat or any part of his/her person to return the ball to any fielder.”
Kohli, thus, might have been gone for 41 had Pakistan appealed. However, they chose not to, and he continued to bat. At the time of writing, India were 189-2 in 35 overs with Kohli on 71 and Shreyas on 48.
