Virat and myself thought the ball was higher than his waist: Faf du Plessis

“Rules are rules,” said the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper, Faf du Plessis, about Virat Kohli’s controversial dismissal in Match 36 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. 

Kohli was foxed by Harshit Rana’s high full toss on the first ball of the third over. An attempted slower one from Rana looked like it would end up somewhere close to Kohli’s head. However, the ball dipped, and Kohli, stuck on the crease, edged for a simple catch for the bowler.

Adjudged a fair delivery on the field, Kohli reviewed the call only for the on-field call to remain intact. He was out for 18 from seven balls and left the field steaming in agony. 

"It was crazy. Rules are rules. Virat and myself in that space thought the ball was higher than his waist. You always find one team happy and the other not so with such decisions,” du Plessis said. 

RCB lost the game to Kolkata Knight Riders by 1 run, succumbing to their sixth loss in a row.

“With a target like 220 [223], takes a hell of a lot to get there. When you haven't won for a while, just that clarity,” Faf spoke. 

“Narine's over was the turning point for me. We feel like the game is changing. We don't feel like there is time to get in. Guys who take 7-8 balls to get in, it feels like the game does not allow you to do that anymore. It is tough. You just play the match-up with Narine, he is such a quality bowler.

“We thought the total was chasable and thought it was a par score. You have to maximise the powerplay and be okay with losing two or three wickets,” the RCB skipper assessed the loss.

RCB required 37 from the last three overs with the Impact Player Suyash Prabudesai set at the crease alongside Dinesh Karthik. Suyash got out on the second ball of the 18th over, and things changed afterwards. Andre Russell (3/25) dismissed Dinesh Karthik in the 19th over to push RCB further back. He was adjudged Player of the Match for his all-round contribution (27 off 20 balls with the bat).

"I always back my bowling. Getting the ball in a crucial time, I know I have to come good,” Russell said about his bowling.

“When I was batting earlier, change-ups were difficult to hit. As a bowler, that is what I tried - length ball, slower cutters, it was gripping on the surface. I was happy to get the two set batters out, and that's what changed the game

“My aim was to bowl an important over and give Starcy as much to defend [in the last over]. I was looking to bowl six deliveries at Karthik and mixing up with the short ones and slower ones,” the all-rounder answered. 

“Russell came on and completely changed the momentum,” Shreyas Iyer, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper, credited the Jamaican cricketer for turning the game. 

The contest looked sealed in KKR’s favour when Karthik was out before the final over. However, Karn Sharma smashed Mitchell Starc for three sixes, bringing the equation down to three off two balls when back-to back wickets handed KKR a one-run win. 

“It's a funny game when you need 18 off 6, the pressure is on the bowler. One six here and there, the bowler is under pressure. It is important we maintain our calmness and stay in the present. Make the batter hit where you want to. It is a challenge that will be thrown at us,” Iyer said about the final over madness. 

Iyer was the only KKR batter to score a half-century in this contest. Scoring 50 off 36 balls, the skipper ushered the team through the second half of the innings after an explosive start. 

“Wanted to stay till the end and see if I can hit fours here and there. The players walking with me were rotating the strike. That was what I was happy about,” Iyer said.