Sports are continuously marred with controversies. Some may happen on the field, and some outside it too. Cricket has its share in that too. Over the years, many on-field happenings have upset the teams, their’s fan following, and the player involved. The bitter pill has to be swallowed, for it is the umpires who hand it over. Some may call the decision biased, but it is mostly related to the heat of the moment.
Kheltalk.com takes a close look at the most controversial decisions that caused a furor in the past’s IPL Tournaments. They remain a dispute even though the dust has settled over them, for it is the fans who remember it more than anyone else who was involved in it.
- Decision: Obstructing the Field.- Two incidents
Player: Yusuf Pathan (incident 1)
Team: KKR
Year: 2013
Match: KKR VS Pune Warriors.
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Incident One:
Yusuf was incomplete swashbuckling form against Pune Warriors, batting at 72 made of just 44 balls. Wayne Parnell was bowling the 18th over, and Yusuf pushed the ball back along with the pitch and ran along with the shot. The ball had not even crossed the middle, with Parnell trying to bend down and recover it. Yusuf, who was on a ‘ Straight Course,’ did not attempt to avoid the ball, and as a result, the ball got pushed away. Parnell and the rest appealed against Yusuf for ‘ Voluntary obstruction of Field. ‘ Yusuf claimed innocence but was ruled ‘ Out’ after many replays.
Incident Two:
Player: Amit Mishra
The same decision was handed over to Amit Mishra in a play-off match between Delhi and SRH. It was the final over, and Delhi required two runs off three balls. Amit Mishra missed a Khaleel delivery and scampered for a run. Saha, the keeper, threw the ball at the stumps but missed it. Khaleel, however, caught the ball and threw it at the non-strikers’ end. The ball hit Amit, who had changed course while running the single. Amit was ruled out, but Delhi did win against SRH in that match.
- M.S. Dhoni ‘ Run – Out’.
Year: 2019
Match: MI vs. CSK
MSD has a huge fan following, as everyone knows. And none of the fans were happy over a controversial run-out that was ruled against the CSK captain. MS ran a single off an overthrow, which Ishan Kishan fielded and threw it at the stumps. It was a direct hit, and the third umpire took his own time viewing the replays; although there were four angles to it, only one seemed to suggest that MS was safely in. Hence, the benefit of the doubt was given to MI. The decision did not die soon, as it remained the most discussed point between commentators, experts, and the fans.
- Lasith Malinga’s No – Ball!
Player: Lasith Malinga
Match: MI VS RCB
Year: 2019.
RCB was chasing a stiff total of 187 posted by the MI. Kohli and DeVillers rose to the occasion, and the former scored a quick 46 before he got out. Deville was batting on 70 from the 41 deliveries he had faced.
RCB required seven runs off the last delivery and that too off Malinga with DeVillers stranded in the non-strikers’ end. Shivam Dube gauged the situation’s impossibility and drove the ball to Long – On and took a single. The controversy which followed soon enough was chaotic. Action replays of the final delivery showed the bowler cross the crease ‘ by far.’ The umpire had not noticed it, and it had possibly cost an RCB win.
DeVillers could have knocked a six off the last legal delivery, which was never bowled.
- Wrong Replay Mr. Third Umpire.
Year: 2018
Player: ‘ Third umpire.’
Match: MI VS RCB
The incident was not only a controversy but a colossal blunder too. Bumrah was bowling the 18th over, and it was Umesh Yadav batting. Umesh held out a catch to Rohit Sharma and started walking back, but the field umpire held him back, checking for a No Ball.
The third umpire did check and decided it was a legal delivery. And Umesh Yadav was ruled out.
So what is the problem? The replay seen by the third umpire showed Umesh Yadav in the non-strikers’ end, which meant that the umpire had seen the wrong delivery and made a No- Ball a valid legal delivery.
- Ravi Ashwin’s Mankading:
Year: 2019
Players: Ravi Ashwin and Jos Butler
Match: KXIP vs. RR.
Ravi Ashwin decided to take a bold step within the rules of the game. He found Butler well outside his non- striker’s crease on many occasions, which gave Butler an unfair advantage of running between wickets. Ravi capitalized on one such occasion and castled the wickets at the bowling end. The umpire had no other choice but to rule Butler out, who was disgusted with how he was dismissed. The incident raised a humongous hue and cry the world all over, but many justified Ashwin’s claim. In the 2020 IPL, Ashwin warned Aaron Finch to stay back or meet the same fate as Butler. Finch thanked Ashwin for his sportive attitude.