Gavaskar slams lack of umpire intervention after Kohli’s run down the pitch

Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar raised concerns over the apparent inaction of the on-field umpires during the IPL 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, questioning an incident involving Royal Challengers Bengaluru stalwart Virat Kohli.

Gavaskar criticised the umpires for not addressing what could be `dangerous`, who was seen running straight down the middle of the pitch during Bengaluru’s innings, that could potentially affect the playing conditions for the team batting second.

The incident unfolded during the 12th over of RCB`s innings when runs were proving difficult to come by amid regular wickets. Facing Yuzvendra Chahal, Kohli gently nudged the ball towards long-on and immediately called for a second run. His batting partner, Liam Livingstone, responded well and dived in safely at the non-striker’s end.

However, what caught Gavaskar’s attention during his live commentary was Kohli’s running pattern. The former India captain ran directly over the central strip of the pitch, a section of the ground that is usually avoided by batters to prevent any surface damage, which could impact the conditions for the chasing team.

“Kohli is a swift runner between the wickets. As soon as he hit the ball, he knew it was two,” Gavaskar said. “No umpire will ever tell him. There he is, running straight down the pitch again. Punjab Kings are batting second,” he added.

The implication of Gavaskar’s observation was significant. In high-stakes games like a final, maintaining a fair playing surface for both sides is essential, and repeated running over the pitch can cause wear that may disadvantage the team chasing the target. While such incidents are generally addressed by the umpires with verbal warnings, Gavaskar noted that no such caution seemed to have been issued to Kohli.

Earlier in the match, Royal Challengers Bengaluru found it tough to build momentum. Despite a strong foundation laid by Kohli and Rajat Patidar, who contributed a brisk 26 off 16 balls, RCB failed to capitalise in the middle overs. Punjab Kings’ disciplined bowling effort ensured the scoring rate never truly took off. Eventually, RCB posted a modest total of 190 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs, considered slightly underwhelming given the batting-friendly conditions in Ahmedabad.

Among the bowlers, Arshdeep Singh delivered a standout performance, finishing with figures of 3 for 40, including a stellar final over in which he conceded just three runs while removing both Romario Shepherd and Krunal Pandya. His clinical death bowling helped peg RCB back just when they were looking to finish strong. Kyle Jamieson was also among the wickets with 3 for 48, while Chahal provided vital control in the middle overs, returning with 1 for 37 in his full quota

This article first appeared on Mid Day