Run-out calls leave a controversial mark on DC’s victory over MI

Run-out calls leave a controversial mark on DC's victory over MI

The Delhi Capitals (DC) won a thrilling game against the Mumbai Indians (MI) off the last ball, but the victory was marred by controversial run-out calls made by third umpire Gayatri Venugopalan. The contentious decisions occurred in the 18th over involving Shikkha Pandey, the 19th over involving Radha Yadav, and the final ball where Arundhati Reddy ran a brace to clinch the win.

Upon closer examination of the run-outs of Pandey and Reddy, it appeared that there was no part of the bat behind the line when the stumps were illuminated by the ball. However, Venugopalan applied a different theory, adjudging that the bail had to be completely dislodged from the stumps for the wickets to be considered broken, rather than the frame when the LED stumps were lit up.

Yadav, in an attempt to steal a non-existent single, was saved by a full-stretch dive, despite television visuals showing her bat to be in the air even when the bails were dislodged. This decision left MI feeling hard done by, especially since Yadav hit a six off the very next ball, reducing the margin to 10 runs off the last over.

Even MI captain Harmanpreet Kaur was puzzled by the decision that went in favor of Pandey and immediately consulted the on-field umpires to understand the call. However, she did not question the subsequent two run-out chances during the game.

The WPL Playing Conditions (Appendix D, Clause 4.2) state that "where LED Wickets are used, the moment at which the wicket has been put down shall be deemed to be the first frame in which the LED lights are illuminated and subsequent frames show the bail permanently removed from the top of the stumps." Clause 29.1 further clarifies that the wicket is 'put down' or 'broken' when "at least one bail is completely removed from the top of the stumps, one or more stumps is removed from the ground."

This suggests that the stumps were considered broken immediately when the stumps were lit up by the ball. If the bails were dislodged in subsequent frames, the first frame where the ball lights up would be the deciding frame for the TV umpire. Based on this interpretation, both Pandey and Reddy were short of their crease.

Former cricketers Stacy-Ann King and Mithali Raj expressed their concerns about the Pandey and Yadav run-out incidents. King stated that the decisions were costly and could have changed the game's outcome, while Raj was perplexed about Yadav surviving, asserting that her bat was never on the ground for the decision to go in her favor.

The interpretation of the rules by Venugopalan left commentators Lisa Sthalekar and Mike Hesson bewildered. Sthalekar questioned the rules on her official X handle, while Hesson pointed out that the zinger bails should have been applicable, with the wicket being broken once the bail lights up. He expressed confusion over the umpire's decision, as it contradicts the playing conditions.