Even the calmest heads can lose their composure in the heat of an IPL match. This was the case for Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper, Shubman Gill, during their encounter against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Jaipur on April 10. GT ended up winning the thrilling contest against RR by three wickets. With the tension high and every run crucial, the 17th over concluded with a slower delivery by Mohit Sharma that Sanju Samson couldn't connect with. The on-field umpire Vinod Seshan signaled a wide, a decision Gill vehemently contested due to the importance of the situation. He opted for a review, and replays revealed that Samson had indeed moved slightly, putting him in a position to potentially play the ball. Consequently, the decision was overturned to a "not wide." However, the source of Gill's frustration stemmed from the initial call made by the umpire on the field.
This turn of events caused further confusion. After reviewing the replays, the third umpire surprisingly instructed the on-field umpire to stick with his original wide call. This unexpected decision clearly agitated Gill, who voiced his protest against amid confusion.
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The drama unfolded during the 17th over of Rajasthan's innings. Mohit Sharma bowled a delivery that went outside the off-stump, seemingly a wide. However, things got complicated as Sanju Samson shuffled across the crease just before the ball was released.
Despite the movement being minimal, the on-field umpire initially called it a wide. This decision was crucial as the Royals were cruising at 148 in 16.6 overs thanks to a strong partnership between Samson and Parag. The wide call would have offered a slight advantage to Gujarat, who had won the toss and elected to bowl first.
However, confusion arose when the third umpire, upon review by Gill, initially reversed the call to "not wide." This created a tense situation, prompting a lengthy and animated discussion between Gill and umpire Vinod Seshan. Gill's frustration was understandable, as such a decision at a critical juncture of the match could put immense pressure on his team.
Adding to the drama, the extra ball bowled due to the initial wide call was dispatched for a boundary by Samson, who reached his fifty off just 31 balls. This further highlighted Samson's importance as the Royals' captain.
Rajasthan Royals, powered by Parag's fiery 76 and Samson's unbeaten 68, finished their innings with a strong total of 196 runs. Riyan Parag's knock propelled him to the second spot in the Orange Cap race, following only Virat Kohli in exceeding 250 runs for the season. While Rashid Khan managed to contain the run flow to some extent, the rest of the Gujarat bowlers struggled, and some sloppy fielding allowed the Royals to amass a significant total in their final overs.
GT will next lock horns with Delhi Capitals on Delhi Capitals on April 17 while RR will face Punjab Kings on April 13
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