Virat Kohli out on 41 at 21st over?. Pak team never appealed

Virat Kohli out on 41 at 21st over?. Pak team never appealed

In the India-Pakistan
Champions Trophy 2025
Virat Kohli was out on 41-at 21st over.

Sunil Gavaskar feels Virat was lucky Pak didn’t appeal.As per the laws of cricket, Virat Kohli may have lost his wicket in the 21st over for obstructing the field had Pakistan apppealed.

Virat Kohli obstructed the field while Babar Azam backs up.
Virat Kohli was batting for 41 when he obstructed the field.

Babar Azam was backing up when Kohli took the ball in his right glove.
Kohli went on to score his 51st ODI century.
43rd over. While Pakistan bowlers toiled hard at Dubai International Cricket Stadium but could not get past Kohli, there was a point in the game they could’ve send him back to the pavillion for ‘obstructing the field’.

In the 21st over of the run chase, Kohli took a single off Haris Rauf. As the throw was off-target at the non-striker’s end, Kohli got his glove to the ball and stopped it. While Kohli’s intent was not to disrupt the run of play as he completed the run comfortably, Pakistan had the option to appeal.
“Nobody is backing up. The fielder (Babar Azam) at the midwicket would have had to dive, but there was no need for him to interfere with the progress of the ball. He (Kohli) is lucky nobody has appealed,” Gavaskar said while commentating.

Former Pakistan cricketer-turned-commentator Ramiz Raja weighed in on the incident as well and said, “And here he was, raving about his game awareness”.
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Had Pakistan appealed for a wicket for ‘obstructing the field’, it would have sparked a controversy. However, getting Kohli’s wicket while Shreyas Iyer was still new to the crease would have put pressure in the run chase.
What does the rule say?
37.1.1 Either batter is out Obstructing the field if, except in the circumstances of 37.2, and while the ball is in play, he wilfully attempts to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action. See also Law 34 (Hit the ball twice).
37.1.2 The striker is out Obstructing the field if, except in the circumstances of 37.2, in the act of receiving a ball delivered by the bowler, he wilfully strikes the ball with a hand not holding the bat. This will apply whether it is the first strike or a second or subsequent strike. The act of receiving the ball shall extend both to playing at the ball and to striking the ball more than once in defence of his/her wicket.
37.1.3 This Law will apply whether or not No ball is called.
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It was 1st ODI ton for Kohli as he completed his century off the last ball of the run chase. He remained unbeaten for 100 from 111 balls as India won by six wickets.

News Edit KV Raman