Four blunders done by Umpires in IPL 2022 so far
A prestigious tournament like the Indian Premier League, where the star cricketers from all over the world showcase their best skills, should have good umpires. They have the most significant impact on the game's outcome as they decide whether a ball is valid and whether a batsman is out or not.
Umpires still play a crucial role even with DRS
They are provided with all the latest technologies, but still, the umpiring has been quite average since the last few seasons of IPL; umpires are constantly making controversial decisions that are crucial to the game and changing its outcome. The level of umpiring is degrading every season, and the BCCI should look into this on a serious note.
Here we will have a look at three such controversial decisions of the season so far
Virat Kohli LBW decision (RCB VS MI)
The most significant controversy of this season has been Virat Kohli's wicket, as he has pronounced LBW in a very contentious judgment during the Royal Challengers Bangalore match against Mumbai Indians at the MCA Stadium in Pune.
The U-19 World cup star Dewald Brevis bowled a full toss on the middle stump line, which smacked Kohli's pads. The on-field umpires immediately gave the batter out, but Kohli did not hesitate to request a DRS since he was sure there was some bat before the ball touched the pads. Before skipper Rohit Sharma sent Dewald Brevis into the attack, the RCB was in complete control of the game, requiring only eight runs off the final 12 balls.
According to the replays, the ball did deviate off the bat, but the third umpire believed the ball hit the bat and pad simultaneously. The decision must favour the batter, but the third umpire decided to proceed with the ball tracking.
Kohli had to go back since the ball was crashing into the stumps. Naturally, he was distraught from the decision as it was not out, and he missed his first half-century of the season.
Ajinkya Rahane 2 wrong decisions (KKR Vs DC)
At Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium, Ajinyka Rahane escaped three back-to-back incorrect umpire decisions on the first three deliveries of Kolkata Knight Riders' innings against Delhi Capitals.
Rahane was caught (according to the umpire) on Mustafizur Rahman's first delivery of the innings, but he quickly appealed, and replays revealed the ball had hit the pads rather than the bat.
He was given out on the second ball, too, for an LBW, but Ajinkya Rahane wasted no time in opting for the Decision Review System (DRS) once more. The ball smacked his bat this time before striking the pads.
On the next delivery, Rahane got a third life, but it wasn't the umpire's fault this time because the Delhi Capitals' fielders didn't appeal. Rishabh Pant caught the delivery behind the stumps after the Indian opener edged it. When the ball crossed Rahane's bat, the snickometer registered a significant increase. The umpiring failed at three balls against the same batter.
Markus Stoinis wide ball (LSG Vs RCB)
Marcus Stoinis of the Lucknow Super Giants was furious after being dismissed by Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer Josh Hazlewood in the final stages of the RCB versus LSG match. The nail-biting match was played in Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium on April 19.
The incident occurred in the 19th over, with the team led by KL Rahul needing 34 runs in the final two overs to win. Faf Du Plessis, the RCB captain, assigned Hazlewood to bowl the second-to-last over. Marcus Stoinis, who was hitting 24 runs off 13 balls, was ready to confront him at the striker's end.
Hazlewood's initial delivery was a clear wide ball, and so Stoinis had no choice but to leave it alone. On the other hand, the on-field umpire ruled it a fair delivery, and it was counted as a dot ball. Stoinis was visibly disappointed and irritated by the decision taken by the umpire.
He was bowled in the next bowl as he tried to play a shuffle shot, and Hazelwood bowled a yorker. Disappointed by the first delivery decision, Marcus Stoinis said a slang to the umpire as he left the field.
Witnessing the third case of blunder by an on-field umpire, Twitter flooded with reactions. Former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth tweeted, "What is happening with the umpiring @IPL , it's quite pathetic, and small bad decisions lead to big outcomes! Wake up and put some people who actually can be a ref! #RCBvsLSG"
Though there were a few chances in favour of LSG, a wrong decision in the final over left fans fumed as they lost the match.
Rovman Powell no-ball (DC vs RR)
Delhi Capitals’ skipper Rishabh Pant asserted that the entire camp was upset over the umpire’s decision of not giving a no-ball to the delivery bowled by Obed McCoy to Rovman Powell in the final over of the clash.
Delhi Capitals needed 36 runs off six balls in the final over to win. Rovman took the role of power-hitter in the last over and smashed two consecutive sixes in the first two balls. He even sent the third ball for a six, but what infuriated DC’s skipper was that the third ball was a hip-high full-toss from Obed McCoy, which looked to be a no-ball. However, the on-field umpire ruled the decision. The third umpire, too, didn’t intervene to clear the confusion or dissatisfaction.
“Yes, disappointed, but can’t do much about it. Everyone was frustrated because it was not even close, so I thought it was only a no-ball. Everyone in the ground saw that. I think the third umpire should have intervened in between and said it was a no-ball, but I can’t change the rule myself, I guess,” Rishabh Pant said at the post-match ceremony.
The exchange resulted in a 100% match fee fine to skipper Rishabh Pant and a one-match ban to coach Pravin Amre who went on-field to argue with the umpire leading to a breach of code of conduct.