Greats back Kohli's no-ball fury

Cricketing greats backed Virat Kohli yesterday after he slammed a "ridiculous" no-ball error which condemned his Royal Challengers Bangalore side to defeat against the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.

Hosts Bangalore needed seven to win Thursday's match off the final delivery when Mumbai's Lasith Malinga bowled a dot ball -- but replays suggested the paceman had overstepped the line.

A no-ball would not only have given Bangalore one extra run but also a free hit and a chance to win the game. However, they lost by six runs.

"We are playing at the IPL level and not playing club cricket. The umpires should have had their eyes open," India captain Kohli said.

On-field umpire Sundaram Ravi, India's only representative in ICC's Elite panel, was responsible for the missed no-ball.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan led calls for a technological solution to cut no-balls out of cricket.

"In an era of so much technology and with so much at stake NO BALLS should never ever be missed," Vaughan wrote on Twitter.

Cricketer-turned-commentator Dean Jones sarcastically suggested having "another umpire on the ground to call no balls".