Kohli reacts after Malinga escapes with no-ball on all-important final delivery
RCB required seven runs from the final ball – a six would have taken it to a super over – but could only manage a single to long-on, which cued celebrations from the Mumbai Indian players before TV replays revealed that the Sri Lankan bowler had overstepped. Had the no-ball been given, RCB would have had the chance to win the game with a maximum.
Speaking after the match, RCB skipper Kohli said: "We are playing at IPL level, not club cricket. That's just a ridiculous call off the last ball. The umpires should have their eyes open, it was a no-ball by an inch. It's a completely different game altogether [if there was the extra delivery]. They should have been more sharp and more careful out there."
Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma, Kohli’s vice-captain for India, remarked: "Honestly, I just got to know after crossing the rope that it was a no-ball. These kind of mistakes aren't good for the game."
After RCB won the toss and elected to bowl, Mumbai Indians posted 187/8 with Rohit top-scoring with a 33-ball 48, while compatriot Yuzvendra Chahal claimed 4-38 with his leg-spin.
Technology should be used much more often in cricket ... so many front foot no-balls missed all the time in all formats and only checked on dismissal. Should be as simple as 3rd umpire telling the umpire through ear piece that a no ball has been bowled.
— Faf Du Plessis (@faf1307) March 28, 2019
RCB’s top order all made contributions, spearheaded by AB de Villiers' 41-ball 70, but they were ultimately left stranded on 181/5 after the final-ball drama.
Main image credit: AFP