Digvesh Rathi’s ‘Mankad’ attempt on Jitesh Sharma deemed ‘Illegal’, here’s WHY
New Delhi: A controversial incident occurred during the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants IPL 2024 match when Digvesh Rathi attempted to run out Jitesh Sharma using the Mankad method.
During the last delivery of the 17th over in an RCB-LSG match at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium, RCB, chasing 228 runs, saw Rathi dismiss Jitesh. However, the delivery was a no-ball, resulting in a six from the subsequent free hit.
During a tense finish, with Royal Challengers Bangalore needing 29 runs from 19 balls and Jitesh Sharma batting aggressively, Karnataka’s Vinay Kumar Rathi attempted a Mankad dismissal. He stopped his delivery stride and dislodged the bails, catching Sharma out of his crease.
Umpire Ulhas Gandhe overturned the decision to appeal Jitesh’s dismissal, ruling him not out. This decision was independent of any suggestion that LSG captain Rishabh Pant withdrew the appeal.
As per section 38.3.1 of the IPL 2025 playing conditions, “If the non-striker is out of his/her ground at any time from the moment the ball comes into play until the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the non-striker is liable to be Run out by the bowler attempting to run him/her out.
In these circumstances, the non-striker will be out Run out if he/she is out of his/her ground when his/her wicket is broken by the bowler throwing the ball at the wicket or by the bowler’s hand holding the ball, whether or not the ball is subsequently delivered.”
As per the MCC’s Laws of Cricket (section 38.3.1.1) “The instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball is defined as the moment the bowler’s arm reaches the highest point of his/her normal bowling action in the delivery swing.”
The third umpire’s decision to rule Jitesh not out was questioned. The umpire justified the decision by citing the bowler’s delivery stride, stating it extended beyond the popping crease. However, this justification lacks support in both IPL regulations and the Laws of Cricket, which do not consider the bowler’s stride in determining the legality of a run-out.
Bowlers must attempt a run-out before their bowling arm reaches its highest point during the delivery.
Rathi’s run-out attempt was deemed legal because his bowling action wasn’t at its highest point. Nevertheless, Jitesh remained not out because Rishabh Pant, having the right to do so, withdrew the appeal, regardless of the third umpire’s potential decision.
“It is his (TV umpire Gandhe’s) opinion, but I felt he (Jitesh) was out. It is a separate issue that Rishabh Pant withdrew the appeal, but according to the law, he (Rathi) removed the bails before reaching the release point, like you would have seen Ashwin do 2-3 years back. So I felt it was out, but we respect the opinion of the TV umpire,” said former umpire Anil Chaudhary.
Jitesh’s unbeaten 85 runs from 33 balls led Royal Challengers Bangalore to victory, securing their playoff berth as the second-ranked team with eight balls remaining.
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