Why was Kohli complaining to the umpire about Haseeb Hameed?

Visuals from day 1 of the fourth test between India and England have emerged showing skipper Virat Kohli remonstrating with the umpires during the England innings shortly after Haseeb Hameed took guard.

The England opener was seen taking a guard and Kohli soon followed him after the delivery to inspect the footmarks and immediately went over to the umpires to question why Hameed was allowed to take a guard as far outside when it is near the protected area, defined by two lines marked on the side of a wicket.

MCC Law 41.11 The protected area

The protected area is defined as that area of the pitch contained within a rectangle bounded at each end by imaginary lines parallel to the popping creases and 5 ft/1.52 m in front of each, and on the sides by imaginary lines, one each side of the imaginary line joining the centres of the two middle stumps, each parallel to it and 1 ft/30.48 cm from it.

The Protected Area                                                                                                                           Credits: @TheCricketArk on twitter

The MCC law regarding this situation is mentioned in Law 41 i.e Unfair Play. Law 41.15.1 states:

1) The striker shall not adopt a stance in the protected area or so close to it that frequent encroachment is inevitable.

2) The striker may mark a guard on the pitch provided that no mark is unreasonably close to the protected area. 

Could land in trouble for taking guard this close to the danger area

Kohli was not impressed, what is your take on this?

Tune into #SonyLIV now https://t.co/E4Ntw2hJX5 #ENGvsINDonSonyLIV #ENGvIND #HaseebHameed #Moment pic.twitter.com/8MBMmqUWKw

— SonyLIV (@SonyLIV) September 2, 2021

Interestingly, the umpires had disallowed Rishabh Pant from doing the same last Test match when the wicketkeeper batsman was seen taking a stance well outside the crease. On that occasion, the umpires had warned Pant for his stance and asked him to stay inside the crease.

ALSO READ: Twitter user corrects Gavaskar, shows law that says umpires were right

Clearly, the double standards did not go down well with the Indian team and they, notably, Virat Kohli was seen having a lengthy chat with the umpire’s after Hameed marked his guard well outside the crease, likely very close to the protected area.