IPL 2022: Massive umpiring howler went unnoticed during SRH vs RCB clash

Umpiring has constantly been largely under the scanner in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. The on-field officials have made some bizarre calls this season, which has more often than not has been crucial in the context of the game. While most of the times these howlers have created headlines, a blunder went unnoticed during the clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday (May 8).

During RCB’s innings, batters Faf du Plessis and Rajat Patidar didn’t change strike at the end of the 11th over and even the umpire couldn’t point out this error. As Patidar took a single off Abhishek Sharma’s bowling in the last ball of the 11th over, he should have faced the first delivery of the 12th. However, it was Faf du Plessis who took the strike.

@CricCrazyNIKS 11.1 Patidar should have been on strike and it is Duplessis.@IPL – What umpiring is happening?@mohanstatsman @bhaleraosarang#RCBvSRH #SRHvsRCB #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/0Jgq3atvaK

— Lokesh Dilip Jangada – लोकेश दिलीप जांगडा (@lokeshdjangada) May 8, 2022

Faf du Plessis, Rajat Patidar played crucial knocks

While this howler didn’t garner limelight straightaway, some Twitter users later pointed out the error and slammed the umpires. It must be noted that RCB won the contest by 67 runs and both Patidar and Du Plessis played crucial knocks. While the RCB captain played the anchor’s role and walked back unbeaten on 73, Patidar scored 48 off 38 balls.

Besides the duo, Dinesh Karthik scored 30 runs off just eight deliveries as RCB posted 192/3 on a tricky surface at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. In reply, SRH never really got going and lost wickets at regular intervals. Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was the wrecker-in-chief for RCB, scalping his maiden five-fer in the IPL. As a result, RCB comfortably recorded a 67-run triumph.

“What we are trying to get better at as a team is making sure that one of those top-four creates a bit of a base. We have got some really strong hitters at the back. The games where we didn’t do so well, there was a big cluster of wickets in the powerplay,” said a pleased Du Plessis after the game.