Through the years, cricket has seen hundreds of records, milestones and unbelievable moments – from debut centuries to hat-tricks that left entire stadiums in shock. But there are few more curious and intriguing than a wicket taken before no legitimate deliveries have been bowled. This one-of-a-kind almost-unbelievable record is held by none other than Virat Kohli, who happens to be one of the greatest cricketers India has ever produced.
In this article, we explore in depth who was the first player to take a wicket on 0th ball in men’s international cricket, the circumstances behind it, the cricketing laws that make it possible, and why this quirky event continues to intrigue fans worldwide.
Understanding The Term: What Does “Wickets on 0th Ball” Mean?
Before we get to the story, it is crucial to explain what exactly does ‘wicket on 0th ball’ mean.
In cricket, a bowler bowls only a legal delivery – which is not wide or no-ball. The wicket, however, cannot be one from wide or no-ball, except if those modes of dismissal are permissible in the particular form being played (e.g., stumping in a wide ball event).
And so a “0th ball wicket” is when a bowler takes a wicket without having to deliver a legal ball in his international career in that particular format. The delivery on which the dismissal comes is recorded as an extra (wide or no-ball) so technically, the bowler has not even bowled one legal ball – hence “the 0th ball.”
This is so unusual because it depends upon such a slim set of circumstances:
- The bowler has to have bowled a wide or no-ball with the first delivery.
- The mode of dismissal must have occurred on the immediate delivery.
- It has to be done before the bowler takes a delivery legal in that format.
The same story happened to Virat Kohli in his first over in the T20 International (T20I) format of the game.
The Historic Moment: India vs England, Manchester, 2011
The incredible incident happened on August 31, 2011 at Old Trafford in Manchester in the lone T20I of India against England.
Virat Kohli was still an upcoming co-star on his way up the ranks of young and talented batsmen. More renowned as a batsman than a bowler, Kohli would sometimes bowl part-time medium pace or off-spin whenever it was required.
In that T20I, then India skipper MS Dhoni threw the ball to Kohli – it may have been a desperate measure, you know something like ‘to disturb the peace’ or ‘change the rhythm of play’ sort-of. What followed became one of the strangest records in cricket.
Step by Step Breakdown of the Incident
Here is how this remarkable wicket panned out:
- Kohli’s First Delivery:
Kohli ran in and bowled the first ball of his T20I career. It was caught out, however; not a legal delivery according to the laws of cricket. - The Batter’s Mistake:
England’s mercurial batsman Kevin Pietersen, keen to charge, left his crease in an attempt to hit the ball. - Dhoni’s Lightning Reflexes:
Wicketkeeper MS Dhoni, famed for his sharp glove work, spotted Pietersen had overstepped his ground. He did not waste any time to pick up the wide delivery and he broke the stumps in a Dhoni-like way. - Umpire’s Decision:
The officials acknowledged Pietersen was out of his ground, and because a stumping is a legitimate mode of dismissal off a wide, the wicket was upheld.
And so, Virat Kohli took a wicket in T20I cricket before he bowled a legal delivery (Ps: the only instance of this odd record ever recorded in men’s international cricket history).
Reaction From Fan, Players and Commentators
The disqualification set off an immediate stir on and off the field. Commentators laughed, a surprised crowd began to hum and even Kohli allowed himself a smile.
Followers on social media and cricket forums immediately began asking questions such as:
- “Can a wicket really happen on a wide ball?”
- “Does this count in bowling statistics?”
- Who was the first bowler to take a wicket on 0th ball in men’s international cricket?
Cricket statisticians later confirmed that it was, in fact, the first “0th ball wicket” in men’s international cricket ever – a curious but verified record for Virat Kohli.
While some thought of the incident more as trivia than a benchmark in performance, it demonstrated cricket’s special twist and that its complex rules sometimes allow such random outcomes.
Similar Rare Cricket Records
Cricket as played is very old and full of odd records, which makes it one of the most comprehensive sports globally. Some other rare dismissals or records are:
- First-ball wickets in career Bowlers like Maurice Tate (England) and Nuwan Zoysa (Sri Lanka) are well known for claiming a first ball wicket in Tests or ODIs.
- Golden ducks: Batters out on the first ball they faced; that was legal.
- Diamond ducks: When a batter is out without being dismissed having faced a legal delivery (e.g. run out at the non-strikers end).
- Disposals due to timing out: When a batsman does not arrive at the wicket in time.
- Hit-wicket dismissals on the first ball: Cases when a batsman inadvertently knocks over his stumps while facing the first delivery of an innings.
For all of these, the 0th ball wicket is in a league of its own because it messes with our fundamental understanding about what qualifies as a delivery, a wicket and a bowling stat.
Why Virat Kohli’s 0th Ball Wicket is so Special
There’s more to Virat Kohli’s feat than the number itself – it demonstrates cricket’s intricate framework and rules. Here is why it still captivates fans and experts alike:
- It’s Completely Unique:
No other male cricketer in international cricket has yet taken a wicket before bowling any legal ball in his career in that format. - It Combines Skill and Chance:
Dhoni’s genius stumping was necessary, of course, but it also needed a rare confluence – of a ball bowled wide and a batsman stepping out. - It Redefines Bowling Statistics:
In technical terms, Kohli’s first delivery in T20I cricket was a wide – but it was also one that went down as a barely-believable wicket. It makes statisticians complicate when they record the “Bowling conquest” of one cricketer. - It Highlights Teamwork:
The dismissal is a great example of how, with that ability to react quickly and the alertness of what’s happening behind them, wicketkeepers can definitely make something even out of a bad ball.
The Rarity of “0th Ball” Wickets in Other Formats
Updated April 3, 20201:15 PMCan a bowler get batsmen out before they have even delivered the ball in any format of international cricket! While there are instances where bowlers have done that other than by Sunil Joshi we can not find one from their very first delivery.
That’s what’s special about Kohli’s case – it was his first ball of the match, and also the first ball he had ever bowled in T20 International history.
In other formats such as Tests or ODIs, there is no record of the bowler also making a wicket in their debut or first spell before bowling a legal delivery. So Kohli’s record of most dot balls is unblemished in all three formats of the men’s game.
What Cricket Law Tech Us About This Moment
Cricket’s beauty is in its rules – complex, detailed, idiosyncratic. The “0th ball wicket” is a perfect demonstration of the Games’ approach to opening up possibilities for unusual yet legitimate results.
While the average fan refers to a “delivery” as the beginning of play, dismissals within illegal deliveries are permitted provided that play is in progress. Which means that stumping off the wide or run-out off a no-ball can and will still officially occur, even though those balls don’t count in the over’s legal tally.
So Kohli’s 0th ball wicket isn’t a loophole – it is an extremely unusual but completely legitimate piece of cricket history.
Trivia Quizzes, Fan Discussions
It has since then gone on to be a popular question asked often in cricket trivia quizzes and fan debates. Quiz questions like “Who was the first player to take a wicket on 0th ball in men’s international cricket? still feature in sports quizzes and pub nights.
Fans enjoy that it is Virat Kohli – a man associated primarily with his obdurate batting rather than his semi-occasional medium-pacers – to hold that record. It is a reminder of how cricket can still surprise even its most ardent adherents.
A lot of discussion and commentary online keeps harping back to the moment, even as some fans are still tickled by the fact that Kohli’s debut with the ball in T20Is was marked by both a wide and a wicket (two ends of the spectrum across one delivery).
Lesson From The 0th Ball Wickets
The story of Kohli’s 0th ball wicket provides a number of lessons in the unforeseeable whims of cricket:
- Every ball is significant: A wide can dictate the shape of an innings.
- Be on the lookout: MS Dhoni’s presence of mind transformed an ordinary delivery into a match-winning moment.
- Cricket’s regulations punish inaccuracy: A layman’s understanding of them can enable players to pounce on a rare opening.
- Records don’t always reflect dominance: It is the strange moments that sometimes make them.
Conclusion
To summarize, Virat Kohli is the first player to take a wicket on the 0 th ball in men’s international cricket. On August 31, 2011, a T20 International match between India and England, a ball was thrown by Kohli during the 0th run. Even so, England batsman Kevin Peterson was stumped by MS Dhoni. This is one of the most unique wickets in cricket history. This record explains why cricket is called a glorious game of uncertainty. A cricket match is much more than just centuries and hat trick. The fact that a ball thrown by Kohli was named history testifies to this. Even today, this wicket amazes fans and trivia fans alike, highlighting the amazement of the amazing stories written by the laws of the sport to remember forever.
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