IPL 2020: Umpire controversially signals a short-run in 19th over against DC

Shreyas Iyer-led Delhi Capitals locked horns with Kings XI Punjab in the second encounter of the ongoing Indian Premier League. It was nothing short of a roller-coaster ride as fans were enthralled by the match eventually going into a Super Over.

After suffering early blows, Delhi Capitals were able to amass 157-run total on the board on the back of Marcus Stoinis’ quick-fire 21-ball 53. Along with Stoinis, skipper Iyer and Rishabh Pant also shuffled the scoreboard by stitching a 73-run partnership in the middle overs. Stoinis’ explosive show in the last over ensured that DC surpass the 150-run mark.

In response, Kings XI Punjab also started their innings with a shaky start, losing three wickets in the first six overs. While KXIP wickets were tumbling at one end, it was Mayank Agarwal who smashed 89 off 60 balls to keep KXIP in the contest. The Karnataka lad weaved his knock around 7 fours and 4 sixes to cruise his side towards the finishing line.

Replays showed that KXIP’s Chris Jordan had made his ground

However, his efforts weren’t enough to guide KXIP past the target. He got out on the penultimate delivery, followed by Chris Jordan’s dismissal on the last ball of the second innings. Eventually, it all boiled down to a Super Over where KXIP were cleaned up for a meagre three-run total by Kagiso Rabada. DC ultimately clinched the encounter with four balls left and opened their IPL 2020 campaign on a positive note.

With wishes for the DC contingent, Twitter was also circulated with a clip involving KXIP’s Chris Jordan. During the 19th over of the nail-biting thriller, Joran had reached his ground while taking a run. However, due to an umpiring error, the Punjab franchise was not awarded a run.

The umpire declared it as a short run, resulting in many fans criticising the umpiring standards of the game. The replays showed that Jordan had comfortably made his ground. Many even felt that it was ultimately the short-run umpiring error which cost KXIP the match. In the age of modern-age cricket technology including the DRS, incorrect short-run decisions like these can prove costly, especially in the shorter format.

Use the technology available. Poor #DCvKXIP pic.twitter.com/BZbRaA571d

— Trent Woodhill (@TrentWoodhill) September 20, 2020

Many prominent names of the cricket fraternity including Virender Sehwag took a sly dig at this umpiring blunder. In an encounter where the winner is decided by the narrowest of margins, errors like these are enough to shift the game in a particular side’s favour.

“I don’t agree with the man of the match choice. The umpire who gave this short run should have been man of the match. Short Run nahin tha. And that was the difference,” tweeted Sehwag. Irfan also questioned the decision by tweeting, “What abt that one short run call????”

I don’t agree with the man of the match choice . The umpire who gave this short run should have been man of the match.
Short Run nahin tha. And that was the difference. #DCvKXIP pic.twitter.com/7u7KKJXCLb

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 20, 2020