Umpiring standards in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 have been laughable as we have witnessed few bizarre decisions. The clash between Delhi Daredevils (DD) and Mumbai Indians (MI) on May 20 saw the umpiring standards stoop to a new low. In the 16th over of DD’s innings, Hardik Pandya bowled a full-length delivery to Rishabh Pant outside the leg stump. Pant failed to get bat on it as the ball struck his back pad. What followed raised serious questions towards umpire CK Nandan’s judgements.
Hardik appealed for leg-before-wicket and umpire Nandan took his time before raising his finger. Pant was baffled by the decision as he completed a single. The wicketkeeper-batsman immediately asked for Decision Review System (DRS). It was quite clear in the reply that the ball pitched outside the line of leg stump and hence the reversal of the decision.
Here’s how Twitterati bashed umpire Nandan’s faux pas —
@IPL @IPLCricket Once again poor umpiring by Mr. Nandan. I guess Azad maidan umpires will do better umpiring #DDvsMI. Guys pls raise ur standards, whole world is watching IPL.
— Romy (@Romykkr) May 20, 2018
one of the very things consistent with this @IPL is sad umpiring especially by Indian umpires #DDvMI if not for DRS then they wud have got bashed morally.
time to pull up the socks and improve further. #IPL #IPLT20 #VIVOIPL #VIVOIPL2018— logharsh (@Harsh_twit) May 20, 2018
There must be a distinction made fast between poor umpiring and poor umpires. Baffles me how the likes of Nandan and Vineet Kulkarni keep getting these high paying IPL gigs in spite of NO improvement over years..
— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) May 20, 2018
Though #pant got a boundary he is denied a single due to umpire’s mistake. That’s unfair totally. Umpiring standard has let this IPL down. #MIvDD
— Arpit Jain (@ArpitJ_) May 20, 2018
#IPL #DDvsMI Poor umpiring ruining India’s biggest brand. Just imagine what would have happed to so many matches had #DRS not been there or when players couldn’t review a poor decision due to lack of DRS option left to them.
— Rahul Sharma (@shrahul) May 20, 2018
Ambanis forgot Drs exists in IPL. Not so easy to get away with biased umpiring. 😉
— SwingAndSeam (@swing_seam) May 20, 2018
Just imagine how costly an umpiring error would that have been. Delhi needs to get to 140 without losing anymore wickets. Then just smash it in the last three. Get to 170 and then game. It’s a slow pitch,pressure of qualifying,chasing won’t be easy.
— Nisarg Mistry (@nisarg1999) May 20, 2018
Worst Umpiring Award- Mr. Nandhan#IPL2018 #IPL @IPL Not a single LBW decision was correct in this IPL. #DDvMI #MumbaiIndians #DilDilli
— shekar kandregula (@shekarI_am) May 20, 2018
Now this is an #IPL2018 umpiring decision.
Can see two stumps and Rishabh Pant can still be given out.
Umpire should be made to sit “murga”.#DDvMI— ramdasbharadwaj (@ramdasbharadwaj) May 20, 2018
That pitched a foot outside the leg stump…Pant would’ ve been out in the pre-DRS era. #ThanYouDRS but that mustn’ t take the focus away from poor umpiring #DDvMI #IPL
— SONU SHARMA (@SharmaSemmi) May 20, 2018
Umpiring at its lowest. But strange thing is umpiring is worse during MI match & that too in favor of MI. Something is fishy! Are they sold out? If can’t win match legit way, win it by money? Height of fixing ipl by money power. #DDvMI
— Deepankar Rawat (@maverick2k15) May 20, 2018
Hahaha that Umpire was trying to get #MumbaiIndians a cushion and some reward maybe after the game by giving PANT Outrageously LBW!!
Hello DRS, Aaj sabka lega Rishabh Pant!!#DDvMI— Arvind Ramachander (@arvindia4u) May 20, 2018
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There have been many instances where not just on-field umpiring but decisions of the third umpire have been questioned in this season. The incident also raised question towards the rule which says if the umpire’s decision is reversed then the single taken by the batsman will be void.
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Pant has been in fantastic form this season. He has been in contention of the Orange Cap throughout the season. He scored 684 runs from 14 matches at an average of 52.81, including one century and five half-centuries. His strike rate has been astonishing as well, clocking at 173.60, better than any Indian batsmen in top 30 run scorers of the season.
With a great show in the IPL season, Pant is banging on selectors’ doors to pick him up in the squad for the upcoming series.
