A disappointed Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant said the third referee should have “stepped in” to check for a potential mid-range no-ball in the dramatic final of their IPL game against Rajasthan Royals as it proved “costly” for his team. Pant had his batters recalled — Rovman Powell and Kuldeep Yadav — after the umpires failed to check the ball for a possible no-ball in the last over, as DC lost the game by 15 runs.
Asked about the incident during the post-match presentation, Pant said: “I didn’t think it could have been a ball valuable to us. I thought we couldn’t have controlled that ball, but I can’t control it.” Needing 36 runs from the last over, Powell hit three straight sixes from the first three deliveries off Obed McCoy. DC needed 18 more from the last three deliveries.
At this point, Kuldeep, who was on the non-striker end, gestured to the umpires and demanded that the final pitch be checked for a possible no-ball at height.
Powell also joined in the discussion with the umpires, but officials stood their ground and said the delivery was legal.
Pant then motioned for Powell and Kuldeep to walk out, though assistant coach Shane Watson tried to reason with him.
“Yeah, disappointed, but can’t do much about it. Everyone was frustrated because it wasn’t even close, so I thought it was just a no-ball. Everyone in the ground saw that,” said Pant.
“I think the third referee should have stepped in and said it was a no-ball, but I don’t think I can change the rule myself.” The incident also saw DC coaching staffer Praveen Amre walk into the playing arena but was told by the umpires to turn back.
RR leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal tried to stop Kuldeep from running away, while Royals opener Jos Buttler, who hit a match-winning 116, was also seen having words with Pant at the boundary line.
The game eventually resumed after a long delay, with DC coming up 15 runs short.
When asked if it was okay to send a team manager onto the field to argue for not calling a no-ball, Pant said: “Obviously it wasn’t right, but what happened to us wasn’t right either. heat of the moment, can’t help much about it.
“I think it was the fault of both sides, not even just us, because we saw good umpires throughout the tournament.” Royals captain Sanju Samson said: “It went for a six, it was a full toss and the umpire gave it a normal ball. But the batsman wanted it as a no ball.
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“I think the referee made his decision very clear and adhered to it.”
(This story was not edited by DailyExpertNews staff and was generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)
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