The new Hawk-Eye technology for determining no-balls for height came into play during Virat Kohli's dismissal in RCB's chase of KKR at the Eden Gardens on Sunday.
Kohli, out for 18 off 7 balls in RCB's chase of 223, was caught and bowled by a high full toss from Harshit Rana in the third over after playing the ball well outside his crease. It was a slower delivery that appeared to be dipping into the batsman, although it was above waist height when Kohli made contact with it.
Umpire Michael Gough reviewed the delivery for height and according to the new Hawk-Eye ball tracking technology, the ball would have passed the batsman at 0.92 metres from the ground had Kohli been upright at the crease. Kohli's waist height had previously been measured at 1.04 metres, meaning the ball would have passed below his waist had he been within his crease and not outside it, making it a legal delivery.
According to the 3rd umpire, Virat Kohli was outside his crease.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 21, 2024
- It's a fair delivery or a No Ball according to you? pic.twitter.com/GkESFX73Nj
Kohli was unhappy with the decision and was seen expressing his displeasure to the on-field umpire, along with non-striker Faf du Plessis, who also felt it should have been a no-ball on height.
To remove the subjective element from the no-ball decision above the waist, the IPL introduced technology this season to measure the height of the ball as it passes the batsman at the popping crease. This is then compared to the toe-to-waist height of the batsman in an upright position, which is measured and recorded in advance. If the height of the ball is higher than the recorded height of the batsman's waist, it is declared a no-ball. Otherwise, it's a fair delivery.
In this case, the projected trajectory of the ball would have been 0.12 metres below Kohli's waist had he been standing upright in his crease.