‌WPL | Twitter and commentators perplexed after TV umpire misreads cricket laws to overturn clean runout

ByArijit Kundu,SportsCafe Editor

02/15/2025

2368

It is important to be aware of one's responsibilities and take accountability for one's actions when performing at a professional level. Although regulating a high-pressure encounter isn’t an easy task, TV umpire Gayathri Venugopalan bemused the fans and broadcasters with a botched decision.

As the toss favoured Meg Lanning during the toss, the decision to field first and capitalise on the dew worked well. Highlighted by Shikha Pandey’s couple of scalps, the Capitals curbed them for 41 inside the powerplay before Natalie Sciver-Brunt’s unbridled 59-ball 80 coupled with Harmanpreet Kaur’s 22-ball 42 propelled the Mumbai side to 164 runs in 20 overs. In reply, the Delhi Capitals got off to a great start with Shafali Verma firing all guns blazing before a collapse made way for Niki Prasad’s 35 that pushed the side towards the finishing line. Having lost seven wickets halfway through the 19th over, a TV umpire decision grabbed the spotlight confusing the fans and commentators.

On the fifth ball of the 19th over, Radha Yadav slashed a length delivery outside the stumps towards backward point and tried to return back after eyeing for a run initially. In the process, the batter had to dive backward, and seemingly, the bat thudded off the ground and hovered over the crease when the bails were dislodged. The TV umpire was referred to for the call, and surprisingly, Miss Venugopalan ruled the batter Not Out even though the blade didn't contact the ground art the time of bails dislodgment. The final verdict perplexed the on-air commentators and the Twitterverse guffawed after the succeeding delivery was smoked for a six.

Harman didn't like it

pic.twitter.com/vO1vW6IVwu
— jithesh (@jithesh1569353) February 15, 2025

Oh hell no!

pic.twitter.com/TA4GoC4lGa
— jithesh (@jithesh1569353) February 15, 2025

Unacceptable

This is unacceptable. The third umpire has no clue about the Playing Conditions when LED stumps are in use.

Here's what the #WPL2025 document says: pic.twitter.com/uqTtdSOKwV
— Hemant Brar (@HemantBrar_) February 15, 2025

Irrespective

Irrespective of the result in the ongoing WPL i must applaud the 3rd umpire who is absolutely world class - to make that kind of decision and to take the replay so many frames back under so much pressure is world class @wplt20 @DelhiCapitals
— Parth Jindal (@ParthJindal11) February 15, 2025

Queen

Best umpire of this generation. Queen 👑 pic.twitter.com/YdDRntF5xE
— Devansh🎭 (T20 league era) (@Nexusofjoy) February 15, 2025

LOL

#wpl 3rd umpire right now pic.twitter.com/n1J5XymIQU
— Nemesis♐ (@fara_s) February 15, 2025

Think

Before making comments it's important to go through WPL playing conditions, because that's what's govern these games. Now this is the relevant section is, and umpire interpreted it that way. The and part being important imo. pic.twitter.com/ImdzeMPOtA
— Kartik O 🏏⚽🔗 (@KOCricket528) February 15, 2025

Specific

#WPL2025

The WPL playing conditions has a specific clause for the use of LED stumps. "...shall be deemed to be the first frame in which the LED lights are illuminated..." Have to say the TV umpire didn't get this quite right, MI would be right to feel aggrieved I imagine. pic.twitter.com/OiLBgkv0cC
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) February 15, 2025

Tradition

3 Umpire Errors in Single match 😡

Which Resulted

MI Lost the match in Final ball!#AaliRe #MumbaiIndians #TATAWPL pic.twitter.com/vAV28XIUUJ
— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) February 15, 2025

Need a lesson