Even as cricket has mostly been in turmoil during IPL 2026, some umpiring decisions have sparked controversy and heated debate, with Angkrish Raghuvanshi being sent off for obstructing the field during Kolkata Knight Riders’ match against Lucknow Supergiants, and KKR fast bowler Karthik Tyagi’s decision not to be sent off in the last over of the same match at the Ekana Stadium on Sunday (both on nine balls considered).During the fifth over of the KKR innings, Raghuvanshi played the ball towards mid-on and took off for a run before being sent back by non-striker Cameron Green. As Raghuvanshi turned and went back to his crease, a diving throw from LSG’s Mohammad Shami towards the striker’s end hit the batsman. LSG appealed, and on-field umpires Abhijit Bhangiri and Kaur Kelkar referred the matter to TV umpire Rohan Pandit, who dismissed Raghuvanshi for obstructing the field. The pundit ruled that Raghuvanshi “changed his course of action” after seeing the ball thrown towards him. The decision sparked a heated debate, with commentators calling it “unfortunate” for the batsman to be dismissed in such a manner.
An angry Raghuvanshi, who hit the boundary cushion with his bat and threw his helmet into the dugout, was fined 20% of his match fee and given a demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the IPL Code of Conduct for Players. Although KKR defeated LSG in a thrilling Super Over, the match was marred by a controversial dismissal.However, former international umpire Anil Chaudhary believes that Raghuvanshi was not out as per the rulebook. Chowdhury felt that the rules were in favor of the batsman in this case.“Look, I didn’t feel he was deliberate (in stopping the ball). That change in direction was not deliberate. It’s not just about the change in direction. It should also be deliberate, because the batsman had very little time. When a batsman plays in front of the wicket, he is looking at the ball, so he does not have much time to react. Turning 180 degrees does not give the batsman much room. I felt it would have been a better call to call it not out,” Chaudhary, who umpired in 12 Tests, 49 ODIs and 64 T20Is, told TOI on Wednesday.According to MCC Law 37.1.4: “For the avoidance of doubt, if an umpire considers that a batsman, running between the wickets, has changed direction significantly without probable cause and thereby obstructed a fielder’s attempt to run out, the batsman must, on appeal, be given out for obstructing the field.” It is not relevant whether there would have been a run-out.”Chowdhury, 61, who currently does IPL commentary on JioHotstar, also opined that Tyagi should have been removed from the attack for bowling two beamers at LSG’s Himat Singh, according to the rules.“It should have been removed from the attack. The second no-ball was at the same height not too far away and in the same range. There was a debate on the outside (ropes). KKR’s coach (Abhishek Nair) also suggested bringing in a spinner, and one was spotted on screen. Then I think the TV umpire said the second beamer was not dangerous. They must have seen it on TV, that’s their opinion.“To me, I think he (Tyagi) should have been sent off because the second full toss was above waist height. That’s not allowed,” stressed the veteran umpire.However, Chaudhary added that he was generally satisfied with the standard of umpiring in IPL 2026. “New umpires are coming in and doing well. Incidents happen because of technology, and sometimes decisions are based on opinion. So it wouldn’t be fair to give general negative feedback. There are a lot of people who are umpiring well. There are some, who think it’s too much, because they can back off.” important,” he said.Other incidents in IPL when players were sent off for obstructing the field.Yusuf Pathan of KKR on 72, against Pune Warriors India in 2013DC’s Amit Mishra 1, vs SRH in 2019CSK’s Ravindra Jadeja on 5, against RR in 2024
