Ruchira Palliyaguruge states he is fit enough to dodge out of danger area

Sri Lankan umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge finally reacted to the shot from Indian captain Virat Kohli in the recent T20 game between India and Sri Lanka which almost hit him. The standing umpire from the game claimed that he is fit enough to swiftly move out of the danger area and won’t use a helmet for his safety.

Virat Kohli was at full throttle in the shortest format of the game against Sri Lanka. Kohli made full use of the Mega T20 season last year, toppling all records. The hangover from the season did not seem to go away as he smashed 82 off 54 balls, smashing 7 boundaries and six.

On 66, one of those boundaries from Virat Kohli almost took the standing umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge with it. Had it not been the evasive action of him dodging the ball being hit straight at him, he too would have been at the receiving end of the hard ball coming at pace

Here’s the video

“It was a lightning strike. I would have tried my hands to stop the ball. I could do that. Let other umpires have an opinion on using the helmet. I am certain that I will not use a helmet. I am fit enough to move out of danger. I work hard every day to be fit for the job. I go to gym four or five times a week”, commented Ruchira Palliyaguruge according to PakObserver.

“My cricketing background (right arm medium pacer and the right-handed batsman) helps me in anticipation of the ball. Had it been deflected off my body nothing would have happened but had it been caught by a fielder after a deflection on my body, Kohli would have been out”, concluded the umpire with an experience of over 124 First Class games as a cricketer.