6 Worst Umpiring Decisions in IPL History – From No Ball Blunders to Wrong Run Short Calls

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has provided countless thrilling matches, but it has also witnessed its fair share of controversial umpiring decisions. These mistakes have led to fan outrage, player protests, and intense debates about the standard of officiating. Here are six of the worst umpiring decisions in IPL history that left teams and fans stunned.

Worst Umpiring Decisions in IPL History

1. Dhoni Loses His Cool – RR vs CSK (2019)

One of the most shocking moments in IPL history occurred during a match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). With CSK needing 8 runs off 3 balls, Ben Stokes bowled a full toss, and the on-field umpire Ulhas Gandhe signaled a no-ball for height. However, leg umpire Bruce Oxenford overruled the decision, creating confusion.

For the first time in his career, MS Dhoni stormed onto the field to confront the umpires. Despite video replays showing the delivery was above waist height, the original decision stood. Although Mitchell Santner’s last-ball six won the match for CSK, Dhoni was fined 50% of his match fee for his outburst.

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2. Malinga’s No-Ball Miss – RCB vs MI (2019)

A crucial last-ball blunder during an RCB vs MI match left Virat Kohli fuming. With RCB needing 7 runs off the final ball, Lasith Malinga clearly overstepped, but umpire S. Ravi failed to call a no-ball. The missed call meant RCB lost the match without getting an extra ball.

Virat Kohli, who was RCB captain at the time, slammed the umpiring standards, stating, “We are playing at the IPL level, not club cricket. The umpires need to be more careful.” The incident triggered widespread calls for DRS to be used for no-ball decisions.

3. Wrong Run Short Call – DC vs PBKS (2020)

A match between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) saw one of the worst umpiring errors when Chris Jordan was incorrectly given a ‘short run’. On the second ball of the 19th over, Jordan and Mayank Agarwal ran two clean runs, but umpire Nitin Menon ruled Jordan had failed to touch the crease, awarding only one run.

Replays showed that Jordan’s bat was clearly inside the crease, but the decision was not reversed. The match went into a Super Over, which PBKS lost, leading to massive backlash from fans and experts, demanding greater accountability from umpires.

4. DRS Controversy – PBKS vs RCB (2021)

In a league stage match between PBKS and RCB, Devdutt Padikkal was caught behind, but the on-field umpire gave him not out. PBKS took a review, and the UltraEdge clearly showed a spike, indicating an edge. Shockingly, the third umpire KN Ananthapadmanabhan upheld the on-field decision.

PBKS captain KL Rahul was furious, arguing with the umpires, but the decision stood. PBKS lost the match by 6 runs, making this one of the most debated DRS failures in IPL history.

5. Rishabh Pant’s No-Ball Protest – DC vs RR (2022)

A high-scoring thriller between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals saw Rowan Powell smashing sixes in the final over. When Obed McCoy bowled a high full toss, Powell and the DC dugout believed it was a no-ball for height.

However, umpires Nitin Menon and Nikhil Patwardhan did not signal a no-ball, nor did they send it for a third umpire review. This led to DC captain Rishabh Pant threatening to forfeit the match and even asking his batters to leave the field.

Assistant coach Pravin Amre entered the field to protest, resulting in both Pant and Amre being fined 100% of their match fees.

6. Heinrich Klaasen’s No-Ball Dispute – SRH vs LSG (2023)

During a match between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Heinrich Klaasen was awarded a no-ball for a high full toss, only for LSG to review the decision. The third umpire, Yeshwant Barde, overturned the call, much to the shock of Klaasen and SRH.

Klaasen expressed his frustration publicly, calling out poor umpiring after the match. He was fined 10% of his match fee for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct, but the decision remained one of the most controversial moments in recent IPL history.

FAQs About Umpiring Controversies in IPL

1. What was the most controversial umpiring decision in IPL history?
One of the biggest controversies was MS Dhoni stepping onto the field in 2019 after a no-ball was wrongly overturned.

2. Has the IPL introduced any rule changes to prevent umpiring errors?
Yes, IPL has introduced no-ball reviews through DRS and increased third-umpire involvement to minimize errors.

3. How did Virat Kohli react to the missed no-ball call in 2019?
Kohli was furious, stating, “We are playing at the IPL level, not club cricket. The umpires should have had their eyes open.”

4. Have umpires ever been penalized for wrong decisions in IPL?
No official penalties have been imposed, but several umpires have been excluded from officiating in later IPL seasons due to errors.

5. Can teams challenge umpiring decisions in IPL?
Yes, teams can use the DRS (Decision Review System) for LBW, catches, and no-balls. However, some controversial calls still go unreviewed.

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Final Thoughts

Umpiring errors have led to heated debates, team protests, and game-changing moments in IPL history. While technology like DRS and ultra-edge have improved decision-making, human errors still play a role. Fans and teams alike hope for more accountability and accuracy in future IPL seasons to ensure fair competition.🏏🔥