‘He hasn't changed his direction’ – KKR batter controversially given out obstructing the field

Angkrish Raghuvanshi dismissed obstructing the field

Mohsin Khan took out the KKR openers, Tim Seifert and captain Ajinkya Rahane, early after LSG captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and opted to field at Lucknow. That brought Raghuvanshi and Cameron Green together: they took the total to 27-2 when Prince Yadav came to bowl the last ball of the fifth over, to Raghuvanshi.

Raghuvanshi pushed the ball to Mohammed Shami at mid-on, but Green sent him back. As Raghuvanshi sprinted back and dived, he was hit by Shami’s throw on the leg. When the ball hit him, Raghuvanshi had not made his ground. The LSG fielders appealed (albeit not very enthusiastically), and the decision was referred to TV umpire Rohan Pandit.

It is worth a mention that Clause 37.1.4 of the IPL Playing Conditions says: “For the avoidance of doubt, if an umpire feels that a batter, in running between the wickets, has significantly changed his direction without probable cause and thereby obstructed a fielder’s attempt to effect a run out, the batter should, on appeal, be given out, obstructing the field. It shall not be relevant whether a run out would have occurred or not.”

After watching multiple replays, Pandit came to the verdict that Raghuvanshi had “significantly” changed his direction of running while turning: he ruled the batter out obstructing the field. Raghuvanshi’s act might not have been deliberate, but the Playing Conditions focus on the change of direction and not on the batter’s intent.

Raghuvanshi had started on the pitch, and his turn had taken him beyond the strip – but it was not very clear whether he had changed direction since Shami threw the ball. On air, commentator Daren Ganga certainly voiced that Raghuvanshi had not changed direction, an opinion that was shared by others in the commentary panel as well.

The KKR camp was seemingly surprised at the call, with visuals showing the support staff having animated discussions with the match officials beyond the boundary.

Mohsin removed Rovman Powell, Green, and Anukul Roy to finish with 5-24. At the time of writing, KKR were 73-6 in 11 overs with Rinku Singh (15) at the crease.

Batters dismissed obstructing the field in the IPL