The Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL) match between host Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday took an interesting turn yet marred by a bit of controversy when LSG bowler Digvesh Rathi tried to run out RCB stand-in-skipper Jitesh Sharma — who was taking the game away from LSG with his blinder — at the non-strikers’ end in the 17th over.
Rathi’s appeal, however, was deemed not out after it was sent upstairs. LSG skipper Rishabh Pant also withdrew the appeal when asked by the on-field umpires, but the run-out appeal was already ruled out due to the MCC Law 38.3.1.2, which basically won’t allow the bowler to effect the run out after completing the action.
While trying to inflict a run-out on the non-strikers’ end, what Rathi did was all under the cricketing rules. However, this didn’t stop voices from questioning the spirit of the game.
Commentator Harsha Bhogle reiterated the same and said, “You play by the laws.”
He took to X and wrote, “I have no problem with the umpire turning down the appeal if he thinks the non-striker was inside the crease when the bowler’s arm had crossed the point where he is expected to release the ball. I am disappointed when the spirit of the game is invoked. You play by the laws.”
RCB skipper Jitesh hugged Pant after the latter withdrew Rathi’s appeal. RCB eventually beat LSG by six wickets to become the first team in the history of IPL to win all of their away league matches in a season. RCB won 7 out of 7 matches away from home in IPL 2025 and finished second to book their Qualifier 1 berth, where they will face table-toppers Punjab Kings in Mullanpur.
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