Picture Credit: Twitter
Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma left the ground disappointed after scoring only seven runs off eight deliveries against the Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 9 at the Wankhede Stadium. Though the skipper’s dismissal did not have any impact as the team won the match by six wickets, it surely stirred some controversy. The MI captain was dismissed leg-before wicket off Wanindu Hasaranga delivery. However, the umpire’s decision was questioned by many fans that the skipper was way ahead of the stumps and the three-metre rule was ignored.
Former Indian cricketers Munaf Patel and Mohammad Kaif shared a picture of Rohit’s dismissal and said that he was 3.7 metre ahead of the stumps. As per the rule, the skipper should have been declared not out. Munaf Patel, sharing a picture of Rohit’s dismissal, said, “Lagta he ab DRS b DRS hona chahye, Unlucky". Whereas Kaif tweeted, "Hello DRS, yeh thoda jyada nahi ho gaya? How can this be lbw?"
The 3-metre rule
The IPL Playing Conditions’ Appendix D talks about umpire and DRS review. As per the Clause 3.4.6.4 of Appendix D, in the following situations, a not out judgement can be upheld, even if the ball was pitched in line or outside off, hit the batter in line with the stumps or seemed to head towards the stumps.
“Where the evidence shows that the ball was hitting, the point of first interception was in line, and the ball pitched in line or outside off, but that the point of first interception was 300cm or more from the stump, or the point of first interception was more than 250cm but less than 300cm from the stumps and the distance between the point of pitching and the point of first interception was less than 40cm, the on-field decision shall stand (that is, Not out),” reads the clause.
Notably, chasing the target of 200, the reigning champions took down the Royal Challengers Bangalore by six wickets to advance to number three on points table.
