IPL 2019 | On-field umpires are expected to assist each other, says Ivaturi Sivaram

The 12th edition of the Indian Premier League has seen a lot of controversies so far in the first 20 days of action. The latest among those is the umpiring controversy in the last over of the game between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings which saw MS Dhoni walk onto the field even after getting dismissed while his side was chasing down the target of 152 in Jaipur.

Ulhas Gandhe at the bowler’s end had raised his hand to make a signal for a no-ball because of the full-toss above waist height. However, Bruce Oxenford at the square-leg position, who technically should have called it and has a better view of it, didn’t make any signal. This resulted in the controversy and former umpire Sivaram has been of the opinion that the two umpires are expected to assist each other on the field.

"The two umpires on the field are a team and are expected to assist each other in order to supervise the game efficiently. From the video clip, it is clear that Gandhe had his arm out, which denotes a no-ball signal. However, while calling a no-ball, an umpire is obliged to first call (verbally) and then signal for the benefit of the batsman and later signal to the scorers to record it. Gandhe didn't go through the entire process, so he didn't technically call a no-ball,” Sivaram told TOI.

"In all probability, Gandhe had put his arm out instinctively but not followed it up by signalling to the scorer after realising that he was not supposed to make this call in the first place. With no signal from Oxenford, Gandhe simply went along with his senior partner. To be fair to Oxenford, he couldn't have seen Gandhe's arm going up as his eyes would have been on the ball and the striker. In his opinion, it was not a no-ball and he stuck to it. The whole controversy seems to have stemmed from umpire Gandhe's outstretched arm, which the CSK players and their captain MS Dhoni contended to be a no-ball signal."

With many CSK fans targeting the two umpires asking why didn’t they go to the TV umpire for a correct decision, Sivaram made it clear that as per the existing laws, the field umpires are not allowed to go to the third umpire unless there is a fall of a wicket.

"Under the existing laws, on-field umpires are not allowed to go 'upstairs' for such decisions unless a wicket falls," Sivaram explained.

"Umpires/refs make mistakes. Like players, they are also trying their best. It is best to accept it and move on. It was completely wrong on Dhoni's part to enter the field."