Recently, an incident involving Virat Kohli brought the waist no-ball rule into the spotlight. During a match between Kolkata and Bangalore at Eden Gardens on April 21, 2024, Kohli was given out on a high delivery that appeared to be dipping over his waist. This decision led to controversy on social media, and Kohli also exchanged words with the umpires before leaving the field. Without taking sides emotionally, let’s first understand the waist no-ball rule in cricket, and then we can discuss who might have been right or wrong in this situation.

What is a Waist No-Ball in Cricket?

A waist no-ball occurs when a bowler delivers a ball, without it bouncing, above the batsman’s waist height. If the umpire considers this delivery to be dangerous, illegal, or unfair, a no-ball is called, and the bowler must bowl an extra delivery. This rule is intended to protect batsmen from potentially harmful deliveries.

History of the Waist No-Ball Rule

The waist no-ball rule has evolved over time. Initially, the 2000 Code of Cricket Laws stated that a bowler would receive two warnings for delivering waist no-balls within a single over. If a third offense occurred, the bowler would be removed from bowling for the remainder of the innings, and another bowler would have to continue from that point.
However, in 2017, the rule was modified. The new regulation stipulated that only one warning would be given for the first waist no-ball. If the bowler committed a second offense, they would be suspended from bowling for the remainder of the innings.
Many experts criticized this change, and several governing bodies called for further modifications to prioritize the protection of batsmen.

Latest Update on the Waist No-Ball Rule Law 47.1

The latest update to the waist no-ball rule allows umpires to use their judgment and expertise to determine whether a delivery is dangerous. This judgment is based on several factors including the speed and direction of the ball, whether the delivery is a repeated full toss, and the batsman’s ability. If the umpires find the ball to be dangerous, they will call a no-ball and issue a final warning. If they decide the ball is not dangerous, a no-ball is called without a warning.

What is the Waist No-Ball Law 41.7?

The updated Law 41.7 states that any delivery that passes above the batsman’s waist without pitching while the batsman is within the popping crease, is considered an unfair delivery and should be called a no-ball.

• If the umpire believes there is a risk of injury to the batsman from a high-waist ball without pitching—taking into account factors like the ball’s speed, height, and direction, the batsman’s skill, and whether such deliveries are repeated—they can issue a first and last warning to the bowler. The umpire must also inform the other umpire, the captain of the fielding team, and the batsmen about what has occurred. This warning applies to the bowler for the remainder of the innings.
• If another dangerous high-waist delivery occurs after the warning, the umpires will require the fielding captain to remove the bowler immediately for the rest of the innings and notify the batters and other fielding umpires.
• Another bowler will complete the over left after the suspended bowler is removed. The replacement bowler must not have bowled the previous over and cannot bowl the following over to prevent the same bowler from bowling consecutive overs.

What happens after the umpire warning in the Waist no ball 41.7 rule?

If an umpire issues a warning to a bowler for a waist no-ball or for delivering a dangerous and unfair ball, the bowler is not allowed to repeat that type of delivery to any other batsman in that innings. If the bowler repeats the offense, the umpires will ask the captain to remove the bowler, and he will not be allowed to bowl for the remainder of the innings.
Furthermore, if the umpire believes that a beamer was bowled deliberately and not by accident, the bowler receives no warning. This is considered a very serious offense. The context of the delivery can help determine whether it was bowled intentionally. In such cases, the captain must remove the bowler from the attack immediately, following the umpire’s instruction, for the rest of the innings.

Virat Kohli Out was a Beamer bowl or Fair Delivery?

In cricket law, it’s noted that umpires find it challenging when a bowler delivers a high-pitched waist ball that dips as it approaches the popping crease. A high-pitched loop ball is not generally considered dangerous, so umpires typically only call a no-ball based on their judgment, which includes considering the speed of the delivery. Typically, batsmen prepare for fast deliveries since most fast bowlers tend to deliver at high speeds. This preparation allows a batsman to play even if the ball is a high waist no-ball, as they are accustomed to the speed.
However, complications arise when a bowler changes the speed and loops the ball in such a way that it initially appears to be a high waist no-ball but then dips to become legal as it reaches the popping crease. This change can be difficult for a batsman to anticipate. This is what Virat Kohli experienced; he was unable to predict the height and speed of the ball simultaneously. The decision ultimately rests with the umpires, who must consider various factors. In Kohli’s case, the ball was a dipping delivery, and he argued that no batter could predict such a sudden change in a high waist looping delivery. He believed the umpire should have given him the benefit of the doubt.
In this situation, considering the difficulty in anticipating the ball’s behavior, Kohli may have had a valid point. From our perspective, it seems fair that Kohli’s argument could be supported, as the unpredictability of such a delivery poses a significant challenge for any batsman. What’s your view on this?

What if a ball is above the waist and hits the stump?

Once it is a no-ball – for any reason – the batter cannot be bowled or given out. For example, whatever comes first will be considered first. So if a bowler bowls a unfair high waist no ball in a looping way and all of a sudden it misses batsman bat and hits the stump. It is considered as a no ball.

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