Umpiring controversy mars Kings XI Punjab vs Chennai Super Kings IPL 2020 crunch game

Kings XI Punjab are facing a must-win situation in the IPL 2020 clash against Chennai Super Kings at the Sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi. Deepak Hooda’s magnificent 62 helped Kings XI Punjab reach 153/6. In response, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis made a great start as they reached 65/0 in seven overs. In the eighth over bowled by Ravi Bishnoi though, there was a controversial moment that had everybody talking and it once again put the standard and quality of umpiring in focus. The incident occurred in the fifth ball of the eighth over bowled by Ravi Bishnoi to Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Bishnoi bowled a flighted delivery outside off, Ruturaj Gaikwad sliced it to backward point where Mandeep Singh dived forward and took a good catch. Ruturaj Gaikwad was waiting and the umpire decided to go upstairs to check whether the catch was legal. Tbe soft signal was also given out. However, the third umpire ruled in favour of the batsman after replays suggested that some part of the ball was touching the grass. The umpires reversed the decision and Kings XI Punjab players could not believe it. KL Rahul was in big discussion with the umpires and Anil Kumble, the head coach of the Kings XI Punjab team, was up on his feet and ready to go the fourth umpire’s room for this incident.

Ruturaj continued to bat on and he hit a boundary off the next ball. Earlier in the game, umpire Paschim Pathak had a poor call as he gave Faf du Plessis caught but relays showed there was no bat.

Umpiring hurts KXIP

This is not the first time that the umpiring has hurt Kings XI Punjab. In the game against Delhi Capitals, Chris Jordan was given one run-short despite replays showing that Chris Jordan’s bat was behind the popping crease and thus the umpires had made a huge blunder. It turned to be decisive as Kings XI Punjab lost two wickets in the last two balls and the match headed into the Super Over. In that, Kagiso Rabada bowled brilliantly as Delhi Capitals stole the game that they were destined to lose.

In the end, Faf du Plessis fell for 48 to Chris Jordan and KL Rahul’s reaction after taking the catch indicated a deep resentment for the umpiring in this tournament. The decision could very well cost Kings XI Punjab a place in the playoffs. Although Kings XI Punjab got a wicket against Chennai Super Kings after conceding more than 270 runs and after 26 overs, it is small consolation in the broader scheme of things.