Rajasthan Royals spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was left fuming after a contentious wide call sparked debate during Sunday’s Indian Premier League match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
During the 13th over of Bangalore’s innings at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Australian powerhouse Glenn Maxwell backed away moments before Ashwin’s delivery release, returning to his original stance once the ball was airborne.
Maxwell attempted a lap shot with the ball narrowly evading his pads down the leg side, and umpire Michael Gough promptly called a wide.
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A furious Ashwin pleaded with Rajasthan captain Sanju Samson to review the decision, and the Indian tweaker was seen debating with Gough as the third umpire consulted replays.
“He’s not happy,” former Zimbabwe bowler Mpumelelo Mbangwa said in commentary.
The decision was upheld a couple of minutes later, but the commentators were not impressed with the outcome.
“I think the bowler should be allowed to retire,” Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle said.
“Because Ravichandran Ashwin has been given a short boundary, a flat deck and a (batter) who is standing four stumps outside leg-stump, and still being called a wide.
“Cruel is about as mild as you can put it.”
Mbangwa continued: “I think he had a point – I genuinely do think he had a point.”
There was further conjecture between Ashwin and Gough at the end of the over, with the 36-year-old mimicking Maxwell’s movement at the crease.
The MCC’s Law 22.4.1 states: “The umpire shall not adjudge a delivery as being a wide, if the striker, by moving, either causes the ball to pass wide of him/her … or brings the ball sufficiently within reach to be able to hit it by means of a normal cricket stroke.”
Ashwin dismissed Maxwell a couple of overs later, caught at backward point for 77 (44) — the off-spinner finished with 1-36 from his four overs as the Royal Challengers registered 9-189. The hosts ultimately secured a seven-run victory after Rajasthan agonisingly short of the target.
Last week, Ashwin was fined 25 per cent of his match fee for breaching Article 2.7 of the IPL’s code of conduct after stating in a post-match press conference: “Some of the decisions in this year’s IPL on the field have left me a little flummoxed, to be honest.”
The Royals, who are currently second on the IPL ladder with four wins in seven matches, will next face the Chennai Super Kings in Jaipur on Thursday evening, with the first ball scheduled for midnight AEST.
