The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 game between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Delhi Capitals (DC) on Saturday in Vadodara was settled in a close finish, as the match was decided in the last ball. Although the match was exciting, it was the sequence of appeals for runouts in the final overs that set controversy and issues regarding umpiring decisions, with the use of LED lights to decide runouts being a subject of concern.
Three Key Runout Appeals: A Controversial Conclusion in DCW vs MIW
In the last few minutes of the game, three crucial runout appeals were referred to the third umpire, Gayatri Venugopalan. In each of the three instances, the ruling was “not out,” which led to a lot of controversy among players, commentators, and viewers as well. The turning points that generated the most controversy included Shikha Pandey and Radha Yadav, both of whom were part of runout appeals that some believed should have been in Mumbai Indians’ favor.
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The Shikha Pandey Incident: Was She Really Safe?
The first of the disputed runout decisions was that of Shikha Pandey. In a dramatic moment in the game, Pandey was party to a runout attempt in which her bat seemed to be in line when the LED light, which signaled the stumps had been struck, went out. As per the match conditions of the WPL 2025, when the LED light is activated, the point at which it does so counts as the stumps being hit.
For Pandey, however, the light was extinguished when her bat had not crossed the crease but was on the line.
Former Indian captain and commentator Mithali Raj was quick to lambast the umpire’s call. Raj had put forward the contention that as Pandey’s bat was not fully in the crease when the LED light died, she would have been out.
Raj elaborated further that in situations when a batter ducks or dives, if the bat returns after reaching the crease, it is generally not considered out. But in Pandey’s instance, the last decision was made on a frame after the bails had fallen, with Pandey’s bat fully inside the crease.
The call left Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur clearly agitated, as she appealed to the on-field umpires, N Janani and Anish Sahastrabuddhe. A bye run was also given on the same ball, with DC requiring 24 runs off the last 14 balls, laying the platform for the last overs.
Radha Yadav’s Runout Appeal: Another Controversial Decision
Two balls later, another big runout appeal was overturned, this time on Radha Yadav. Similar to Pandey, Yadav also tried to make a swift run but was at risk of being run out as MI wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia dislodged the stumps, and the LED light came on. At that time, no portion of Yadav’s bat was in the crease, which again questioned the umpire’s decision.
In spite of this, the third umpire ruled her not out, taking his decision from a frame after the LED light had extinguished when Yadav’s bat was well within the crease.
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Again, Mithali Raj spoke out against it, pointing out that based on the timing of the LED light and the alignment of Yadav’s bat, she ought to have been dismissed. Raj’s words struck a chord with many of the viewers who wondered how such calls could be made under intense pressure situations. Yadav’s response was to hit a six, and DC required only 10 runs from the last six balls.
The Last Ball Drama: Arundhati Reddy’s Narrow Escape
The last runout appeal of the match was on the last ball, adding to the already dramatic finish. DC needed just two runs for victory, and Arundhati Reddy hit an aerial shot over the covers but did not time the ball. MI’s Harmanpreet Kaur sprinted from the covers and made a brilliant throw to the striker’s end, where wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia collected the ball and broke the stumps just as Reddy dived to make her ground.
Just like in the previous appeals, the LED light extinguished at the time Reddy’s bat was slightly on the line. The third umpire, however, decided to check the subsequent frame, where Reddy’s bat was completely within the crease and declared her not out, thus ensuring DC’s victory.
Mithali Raj’s Reaction: A Critical Commentary on the Umpire’s Call
Mithali Raj, who was providing commentary for the match, was loud in her criticism of the third umpire’s decisions, especially the ones concerning Shikha Pandey and Radha Yadav. Raj contended that both players should have been given out considering the timing of the LED light and the stance of their bats at the time. Her observations also fueled debate about the contribution of LED lights in enabling umpires to make correct decisions, particularly under pressure during such tense moments in the game.
Effect on the Game: Frustration for Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals’ Narrow Victory
The debate over the runout decisions only served to increase the drama of an already sensational match. Mumbai Indians, who were skippered by Harmanpreet Kaur, could be seen to be infuriated by the adverse decisions made by the umpires, especially in the aftermath of the close moments. DC players and fans, on the contrary, were delighted to have grabbed a dramatic win, but the disputed runout decisions had an unpleasant aftertaste for many.
Ultimately, the series of runout appeals and the contentious rulings by the third umpire were the subject of discussion in the match. While Delhi Capitals basked in their close victory, the umpiring rulings kept people talking, especially concerning the application of LED lights to settle the fate of runout appeals.
The Legacy of the Controversial Runouts
The DC vs MI game in WPL 2025 will surely be remembered for its nail-biting finish and the controversy surrounding the runout decisions. With the tournament on, the application of technology, especially LED lights, in making runout decisions will continue to be a subject of debate. Whether these decisions end up making umpiring more accurate or generating more controversy will be a matter of interest as the WPL continues.
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