In a recent match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the ongoing IPL 2024, the MI dugout has come under scrutiny for their actions during the game, raising questions about the role of the third umpire and the use of Decision Review System (DRS) in the tournament.
The controversy arose during the 15th over of the first innings when PBKS pacer Arshdeep Singh bowled a wide yorker to MI’s Suryakumar Yadav. Yadav, positioned leg side, failed to reach the ball, but the on-field umpire did not signal it as a wide. However, members of the MI camp allegedly watched the replay and then signaled to their batters for a review. After the review, the decision was overturned, and a wide was given. This incident led to PBKS captain Sam Curran expressing his displeasure over the decision.
Another contentious decision occurred in the 19th over when Curran bowled a delivery outside off to which MI’s Tim David reached out. The ball went through to the wicketkeeper, and initially, it wasn’t called a wide. However, David decided to review the decision, and the replays showed that the ball went under his bat. The third umpire, Nitin Menon, adjudged it as a wide, even though IPL rules state that a ball can’t be wide if it is within the reach of the batter.
Former Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach, Tom Moody, criticized the work of third umpires in a post on social media, calling for specialist third umpires. He suggested that some umpires might be better suited for on-field duties, while the third umpire role requires experience and a specific skill set.
Such decisions, albeit seemingly small, can have a significant impact on the outcome of matches and the IPL 2024 points table. With this win, MI has climbed to seventh in the points table with six points in seven fixtures, while PBKS has dropped to ninth with four points in seven fixtures.
The incident has sparked a debate about the need for specialized third umpires and the use of technology in decision-making. As the tournament progresses, it remains to be seen if there will be any changes or improvements in the umpiring protocols to address such controversies and ensure fair play in IPL 2024.
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