Virat Kohli and Nitin Menon is a story that continues to grow with every now and then; whether it’s in the IPL or in international cricket, both can’t catch a break from each other and come across regularly at home matches.
On Day 5 of the 4th Border-Gavaskar Series 2023 Test, in Ahmedabad, Virat Kohli took a cheeky dig at Nitin Menon after the umpire had denied the lbw appeal that India made for Travis Head.
Desperate for a wicket to force their win at the Narendra Modi stadium, Indian players, and the crowd, went up in unison for a huge lbw appeal for Head’s wicket off R Ashwin’s bowling in the 35th over of Australia’s innings.
Skipper Rohit Sharma, after consulting with Ashwin, who was confident as ever, and the wicket-keeper KS Bharat, decided to challenge the review with the DRS call.
There was no bat, confirmed by the UltraEdge. On Hawkeye, the ball tracking showed that Travis Head was just lucky: the impact was in the line, but the ball was just brushing the stumps, meaning it was “Umpire’s Call” on hitting, and hence, the on-field umpire Nitin Menon’s decision of ‘Not Out’ stood and Head survived.
This perhaps irked Virat Kohli, standing in slips, as he shouted to Menon “Mai Hota Toh Out Tha,” referring to the few times where Kohli had been given out – including earlier in the series – only to find out that it was ‘Umpire’s Call’.
In the Delhi Test, too, Menon had given Kohli out and it was later found to be only clipping, which is ‘Umpire’s Call’, the stumps and hence Kohli had to walk back.
Here Kohli took a cheeky dig at Menon, saying had it been himself batting, Menon would have given him out. The umpire produced a sheepish smile at Kohli and even raised his finger, perhaps agreeing with Kohli and then gave a thumbs up.
This incident went viral on social media.
Watch: Virat Kohli’s takes a dig at Nitin Menon, umpire reacts back
https://twitter.com/WintxrfellViz/status/1635162761201328128?s=20
Meanwhile, even as India struggled to dismiss the partnership between Head and Labuschagne, a positive news for them is that New Zealand have defeated Sri Lanka in Christchurch, which means that India qualify for the WTC final, regardless of the result in Ahmedabad.
New Zealand chased down the target of 285 with two wickets in hand as Kane Williamson scored a brilliant unbeaten century, taking his side over the line.
