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A huge controversy erupted during the IPL clash between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Friday (April 22). The high-scoring thriller was halted for a moment when a no-ball fracas took the centre stage in the final over.
Drama ensued in the RR's 15-run win over DC when the third delivery off the final over, a hip-high full-toss from Obed McCoy, was whacked by Rovman Powell for a six but the DC camp demanded it be called a no ball for height. However, the umpire refuse to adjudge it a no ball which saw Rishabh Pant seeming trying to call back the players and forfeit the game.
Cheater-Cheater chant joined the no-ball drama
While the match was brought to a halt as DC players continued to protest over the matter, the Wankhede spectators too joined the on-field debate while giving their verdict on the matter. Chants of “Cheater... Cheater...” started resonating in the stadium as the umpires refused to involve the third umpire in the matter.
The break in momentum didn't do much good to DC as Powell couldn't hit the 4th straight maximum in a row. He collected a double from the penultimate delivery of the over before being caught on the final one and eventually the side lost to RR.
Meanwhile, DC skipper Pant was on Saturday fined 100 per cent of his match fee, while assistant coach Pravin Amre was handed a one-match ban for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during Delhi Capitals' 15-run loss to Rajasthan Royals. Besides the one match ban, Amre was also fined his entire match fees, while DC pacer Shardul Thakur too has been penalised 50 per cent of his match-fees, IPL said in a release.
Earlier, Pant said that the third umpire should have "interfered" to check for a possible waist-high no-ball in the dramatic final over as it proved "precious" for his team.
"Yes, disappointed, but can't do much about it. Everyone was frustrated because it was not even close, so I thought it was only a no ball. Everyone in the ground saw that," Pant said.
"I think third umpire should have intervened in between and said it was a no ball, but I can't change the rule myself I guess," he added.
On the other hand, DC's assistant coach Shane Watson said that the side doesn't stand for what happened in the last over and asserted that players should have to accepted umpire's decision and it is completely "unacceptable" for someone to enter the field of play.
"Look, it was very disappointing what happened in that last over. We weren't able to put things together for long enough throughout that game up until that point," Watson said at the post-match press conference.
"In the end, Delhi Capitals don't stand for what happened in the final over. The umpire's decision, whether it's right or wrong, we have to accept. Someone running onto the field. It's not acceptable, we simply weren't good enough."
"It gave Obed McCoy time to regroup as well. In the end, that stoppage did play into RR's hand and it was an unfortunate stoppage," he added.
