Why was Sunil Narine not given out hit wicket against RCB despite dislodged bails?
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season kicked off with a thrilling encounter between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The match saw some exciting moments, including a peculiar incident involving KKR’s ace all-rounder Sunil Narine. In the eighth over, Narine hit the stumps with his bat after a wide ball from RCB’s Rasikh Salam. However, to everyone’s surprise, he wasn’t given out hit wicket. This decision led to a lot of debate among cricket enthusiasts, and in this blog post, we will delve into the reasons behind this decision.
The Incident
The incident occurred during the eighth over of KKR’s innings. Narine, known for his unorthodox batting style, was facing Rasikh Salam, the young RCB pacer. Salam delivered a wide ball, which Narine attempted to hit. However, he failed to connect the ball properly, and it hit the stumps. The bails were dislodged, and it seemed like Narine was about to be given out hit wicket. But, to the shock of everyone, the umpire didn’t raise his finger.
The Law of the Game
As per the laws of cricket, a batter is not out hit wicket if the stumps are broken after the delivery is complete. In this case, the ball was already in the hands of the RCB wicketkeeper, Arshdeep Singh, which means the delivery was complete. The Law 33.3 of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) states, “A batsman is out hit wicket if his wicket is disturbed by his bat or person, but not if the wicket is disturbed by the ball after it has been delivered.”
Clarification from the Umpire
After the match, the umpire, Paul Reiffel, explained the decision, saying, “The ball had already been delivered, and the wicketkeeper had already collected the ball. So, according to the laws, the batsman wasn’t out hit wicket.” Reiffel further clarified that the incident was similar to a run-out, where the ball is already in the hands of the fielder, and the batsman is not considered out.
Reaction from the Players
Narine himself seemed unaware of the law and was surprised by the decision. In a post-match interview, he said, “I didn’t know what was happening. I thought I was out, but the umpire told me it was okay.” RCB’s skipper, Faf du Plessis, also agreed with the umpire’s decision, saying, “I think the umpire got it right. The ball was already in the keeper’s hands, so it’s not a hit wicket.”
Conclusion
The incident involving Sunil Narine and RCB’s Rasikh Salam highlighted an important aspect of the laws of cricket. The decision not to give Narine out hit wicket was correct, as the stumps were broken after the delivery was complete. The umpire’s explanation and the reactions from the players all point towards a correct application of the laws. This incident serves as a reminder to players, umpires, and fans alike about the importance of understanding the intricacies of the game.
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