New Delhi: Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s controversial dismissal for obstructing the field during Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Sunday has reignited debate across the league—about the exact wording of the law, but also about the broader “spirit of the game”, and whether LSG captain Rishabh Pant should have chosen to pull the appeal.
Key takeaways
- Raghuvanshi was given out after a throw from the infield struck him as he slid/dove to complete his ground during an attempted quick single.
- Mohammed Shami lodged the appeal, and the third umpire upheld the decision after a referral, citing a change in running line.
- Under IPL playing conditions (Clause 37.1.4), a batter can be dismissed for significantly altering direction without probable cause and thereby blocking a fielder’s chance to execute a run-out.
- Rohan Gavaskar argued the batter’s action looked unintentional because he was not watching the ball at the moment of the dive.
- Virender Sehwag said the appeal was legally defensible, but questioned it from an ethics/spirit perspective, calling it a tough call nonetheless.
- KKR went on to win a tense encounter including a Super Over, with Sunil Narine’s impact and Rinku Singh’s finishing shot lifting them off the bottom of the table.
What happened in the dismissal
The incident unfolded when Raghuvanshi attempted a swift single. As play developed, he was sent back and then dived to get back to his crease as a throw came in from the infield. The ball hit him during the mid-dive, prompting an appeal from Mohammed Shami.
After the on-field call was referred, the third umpire ruled Raghuvanshi out. The reasoning given was that he had changed his running line, which—under the rules—can amount to obstruction even if the run-out itself may not have been certain.
The decision was aligned with IPL playing conditions, specifically Clause 37.1.4. That clause states that a batter may be declared out if they “significantly changed his direction without probable cause and thereby obstructed a fielder’s attempt to effect a run out,” irrespective of whether a run-out was likely.
Debate over the law and the captain’s appeal
Post-match, former India batter Rohan Gavaskar expressed disagreement with the call. He said, “I think it’s not out because when the ball came and the batter dived, he was not looking at the ball. He was looking to make that dive. If he was looking at the ball, then he wouldn’t have dived, knowing that if he had dived, the ball would hit his body. When he made that dive, it means that it was unintentional. So I would think that it was not out.”
The discussion then widened to the captain’s role—whether Pant, as skipper, could have withdrawn the appeal. Virender Sehwag weighed in with a two-part view. He noted that if the situation favoured LSG, the captain might have been willing to let it go, but with the match not in Lucknow’s favour, the appeal was pursued.
Sehwag said, “When you are winning, you, as the captain, think that we can let go of this. But since Lucknow were not winning, then they thought that they could get this wicket, and we would get benefit. So they appealed and as per law, it is a correct appeal.”
He added that while the appeal could be justified legally, the moment still raised questions about conduct. “But we can say that in spirit of the game, they should not have done it. But when you have made a law, then where was spirit of the game?”
Sehwag concluded by stressing the umpire’s view on the replay and the harshness of the outcome. “But I will say that this was third umpire’s decision, and he was watching it on the TV. And when he put in the dive, it’s not that he was looking at the ball… so it was indeed a harsh call.”
KKR’s Super Over win in Lucknow
Despite the controversy shaping conversations around the match, the contest itself turned into a classic thriller, with Sunil Narine and Rinku Singh starring as KKR edged LSG in a Super Over in IPL 2026.
Narine’s spell in the tie-breaker helped keep LSG under pressure, restricting them with a decisive double strike. Rinku then sealed the result for KKR by finding the boundary, securing the win in a high-stakes finish.
The victory propelled KKR away from the bottom of the points table, coming after a tense, closely fought game in Lucknow.
