What’s IPL without some controversy? Match 29 of the IPL 2020 featured a slightly heated moment surprisingly involving the captain cool, MS Dhoni.
The incident came to light when umpire Paul Reiffel decided against calling a delivery as a ‘wide ball’. During the penultimate over, CSK bowler Shardul Thakur bowled a wide yorker to batsman Rashid Khan. The ball seemed quite wide and the replay confirmed it as well as the ball was seen pitching out of the line.
Umpire Paul Rieffel began to stretch his arms to signal a wide. However, at the same time, he saw a furious reaction from Dhoni which is contrary to his nature. Rieffel clearly influenced by Dhoni’s reaction, stopped midway to not declare it as a wide.
The incident sparked a debate online from cricket lovers. Some criticized Rieffel for making a biased decision that too under influence. Some criticized MS Dhoni was showing a reaction which was unnecessary and detrimental to the spirit of the sport.
Dhoni and Rieffel criticized!
SRH skipper David Warner showed disappointment in the way the decision was made as well. The game was at a fairly critical stage and with the ability, Rashid Khan possesses with the bat, you never know what could happen.
Here’s a video of the incident:
The replay clearly shows the ball pitching outside the line.
Horrible umpiring from Paul Reiffel.
— Aditya (@forwardshortleg) October 13, 2020
Got pressured by Dhoni to not give a wide.
This is not new. Umpire's get bullied and pressurized by Dhoni all the time. It's shocking that they don't learn.
How is this not a wide? #SRHvCSK #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/bkOQvI4dPT
A similar incident happened last year, however, this time around skipper MS Dhoni was on the receiving end and that did not go well with him at all. Royals’ Ben Stokes bowled a fairly high full toss to Mitchell Santner. The umpire stretched one of his hands to signal a no-ball but retrieved mid-way.
An infuriated Dhoni charged his way to the pitch from the dugout and engaged in an argument with both the umpires. Stokes tried to calm him but was in vain.
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