It is not the first time that we have seen a horrible decision from the on-field umpires in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season and unfortunately, it might not be the last. This time, it is not an Indian umpire who has made a horrendous decision but an experienced Marais Erasmus. On the fifth delivery of the sixth over, the ball slipped out of Deepak Chahar’s hand. The ball went over Shakib Al Hasan’s head but instead of signalling it as a no-ball, Erasmus signalled it as a dead ball.
Shakib was perplexed with the decision as it did not fall midway on the pitch but went over his head and to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. After Shakib’s protest, Erasmus had a talk with umpire Chettithody Shamsuddin and chose to stay with his original decision.
Here’s the video of the unofficial no-ball —
Another blunder by Umpirehttps://t.co/SiLflUvmsv
— Faizal Khan (@faizalkhanm9) May 22, 2018
Here’s how Twitterati bashed poor umpiring yet again —
Are you kidding me? How is that not a no ball? Dead ball – really?? Bowler got away! Poor umpiring! #SRHvCSK #CSKvsSRH @IPL #VIVOIPL2018
— mafy karim (@karim_mafy) May 22, 2018
umpiring standards in ipl are inversely proportional to petrol prices.
— Kuptaan (@Kuptaan) May 22, 2018
Umpiring at its worst best!!!!!
That was ball slipped from Chahar’s hands. It was a mistake of bowler, punishment was given to batting team as it was Dead (Dot) Ball and not a No Ball.#SRHvCSK #Playoffs #IPL
— CA Khilesh (@CA_Khilesh) May 22, 2018
district level umpiring chala better ee IPL umpiring kante.. too worst
— (@InherentArbiter) May 22, 2018
Umpiring has been bad this IPL. We’ll need a DRS for everything now.
— Don Karnage! (@djdumass) May 22, 2018
@IPL umpiring standards pic.twitter.com/bYCDOSKjOB
— Unpredictable AsHwIn (@Srikanth050593) May 22, 2018
ALSO READ: IPL 2018, SRH vs CSK, Qualifier 1: Lungi Ngidi or Dwayne Bravo – Who Took The Best Catch?
We have seen plenty of blunders in this season. But a decision like that in playoffs can prove to be game-changing. SRH were not only robbed of a no-ball but a free hit as well. A free hit in that situation could have turned the momentum in SRH’s side after the top order collapsed.
After getting under pressure, Shakib got out for just 12 runs off 8 balls as he played a desperate pull shot off Dwayne Bravo in an attempt to increase the scoring rate.
