IPL 2020: Kings XI Punjab appeal against incorrect 'short-run' call after losing against Delhi Capitals

Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Capitals locked horns in what turned out to be a nail-biting thriller of the thirteenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Delhi, led by Shyreas Iyer, managed to amass 157 runs on the board due to Marcus Stoinis quick-fire 21-ball 53 at the end. At a point when crossing the 150-run mark was looking unfeasible for DC, Stoinis smoked Chris Jordan for 3 fours and 2 sixes to take his side to a challenging total.

In response, it was KXIP’s Mayank Agarwal who slammed 89 off 60 deliveries to almost clinch the match for his side. Both teams posted 157 runs on the board and it eventually boiled down a Super Over where Delhi Capitals pocketed the match with four deliveries to spare.

After all the drama and action, a controversial ‘short-run’ call during KXIP’s run-chase started doing rounds on the internet. In the 19th over bowled by Kagiso Rabada, on-field umpire Nitin Menon did a blunder after calling Chris Jordan for a ‘short run’ on the third ball.

However, the TV replays showed that Jordan’s bat was well inside the crease when he completed the first run. The decision was not reversed despite technological evidence that it was a wrong call and it ultimately turned out as the ‘game-changing’ moment of the match. In the final over, KXIP needed 13 runs to win and they managed to gather only 12 runs, taking the match into a Super Over where they lost.

In the wake of the wrong ‘short-run’ call, Twitter was flooded with tweets bashing the poor standards of umpiring. According to fans, modern-day technology in cricket shouldn’t lead to blunders like these on the field. Kings XI Punjab have also appealed to the match referee by losing the encounter by the narrowest of margins.

Hope the rules are reviewed: KXIP CEO

“We have appealed to the match referee. While a human error can happen and we understand that, there is no room for human errors like these in a world-class tournament like the IPL. This one run could cost us a playoff berth,” KXIP CEO Satish Menon said, as quoted by Outlook. “A loss of a game is a loss of a game. It is unfair. Hope the rules are reviewed so that there is no margin for human error,” he added.

However, the appeal might not yield any result since rule 2.12 in the IPL rule book says that– “An umpire may alter any decision provided that such alteration is made promptly. This apart, an umpire”s decision, once made, is final.”

Along with fans, many prominent faces of the cricket fraternity including Virender Sehwag, Sanjay Manjrekar and Aakash Chopra questioned the umpiring and the negligence of technology in such crunch moments. KXIP co-owner and Bollywood actress Preity Zinta also said that rules need to be changed for the sake of fair result.