Richard Kettelborough’s Unconventional Call in India vs. Bangladesh Match Delights Fans as Virat Kohli Nears Century Milestone

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 witnessed an unforgettable and amusing moment during the India vs. Bangladesh match. In the 42nd over of India’s innings, they needed just two runs to secure their victory in a chase of 257. However, the star of the Indian team, Virat Kohli, who was on strike, was tantalizingly close to a century, needing just three runs to reach the coveted milestone. 

Kettleborough’s Quirky Decision

As Nasum Ahmed prepared to bowl, he sent a short delivery down the leg side with a flatter trajectory. Initially, Virat Kohli backed away but then decided to leave the ball alone. To the Indian captain’s frustration, it appeared that Nasum was trying to deny him the century by firing down the leg side. However, in a surprising and unconventional turn of events, umpire Richard Kettleborough refused to signal a wide ball.

Umpire Kettleborough’s unique decision was met with jubilation from the entire stadium, and the applause from the fans reverberated throughout the venue. The umpire’s spontaneous and entertaining gesture added an unexpected layer of amusement to the match, and even he couldn’t help but break into a smile as he applauded Virat Kohli for his outstanding innings.

Kohli’s Century and India’s Dominance 

Virat Kohli, seizing the opportunity created by the unconventional call, decided not to let the century slip away. On the third ball of the over, he struck Nasum Ahmed for a resounding six, bringing up his 48th ODI century. With this shot, India sealed their fourth victory of the tournament in four games, maintaining their unbeaten run.

Virat Kohli’s determination to reach his century was evident throughout the match. As the chase seemed comfortable with around 25 runs needed to win, Kohli took it upon himself to reach the three-digit score. He played aggressive shots, refused singles unless it was the last ball of the over, and ran hard to convert ones into twos. With his unwavering focus on the century, he reached the milestone with the winning blow, bringing delight to the fans who had come to witness India’s victory and, if possible, a century from their captain.

Rohit Sharma’s brisk 48, Shubman Gill’s half-century, and KL Rahul’s neat 34* further solidified India’s dominance in the match. While the chase of 257 was considered challenging, India’s performance showcased their formidable strength in the tournament, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the team’s future matches.

Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram