Controversial dismissal of Angkrish Raghuvanshi “obstructing the field” during IPL 2026 clash While the cricket during IPL 2026 was mostly engrossing, several umpiring decisions sparked controversy and heated debate with Angkrish Raghuvanshi being given out for obstruction on the field during Kolkata Knight Riders’ match against Lucknow Super Giants and the decision not to remove KKR paceman Kartik Tyagi from the attack despite bowling two full balls. final of the same match at the Ekana Stadium on Sunday.During the fifth over of KKR’s innings, Raghuvanshi played the ball towards mid-off and went for a run before being sent back by non-striker Cameron Green. As Raghuvanshi turned to head back to his crease, a throw from LSG’s Mohammed Shami towards the striker’s end hit the diving batsman. LSG appealed and on-field umpires Abhijeet Bengeri and Keyur Kelkar referred the matter to TV umpire Rohan Pandit, who declared Raghuvanshi sent off for obstruction on the field. Pandit ruled that Raghuvanshi “changed the direction of his movement” after seeing the ball thrown at him. The decision sparked heated debate, with commentators calling the batter “unfortunate” to be rejected in this way.
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IPL 2026: KKR’s Vaibhav Arora on handling pressure after Super Over win vs LSGA disgruntled Raghuvanshi, who hit the boundary pad with his bat and threw his helmet into the dugout, was fined 20% of his match fees and also given one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the IPL Players’ Code of Conduct. Although KKR defeated LSG in a thrilling Super Over, the match was marred by a controversial dismissal.However, former international umpire Anil Chaudhary believes that Raghuvanshi was not offside as per the rules. Chaudhary felt that the rule favored the batter in this case.“Look, I didn’t feel he was deliberate (defending the ball). That change of direction was not deliberate. It’s not just about the change of direction, it has to be deliberate because the batsman had very little time. When a batsman plays in front of the wicket, he follows the ball, so he didn’t have much time to react to it. The spin of the bat doesn’t give much space. “He’s not out, it would be better to call,” Chaudhary, who has featured in 12 Tests, 49, told TOI on Wednesday ODIs and 64 T20Is.According to MCC Law 37.1.4: “For the avoidance of doubt, if the umpire feels that the batsman, while running between the wickets, has changed direction significantly without probable cause, thereby preventing the fielder from attempting to run out, the batsman should be dismissed on appeal for obstructing the field. It is not relevant.”Chaudhary, 61, who is currently commentating the IPL on JioHotstar, also felt that Tyagi should have been removed from the attack for throwing two beamers at Himmat Singh LSG as per the rules.“It should have been removed from the attack. The second off-ball was at the same height, not too far and in the same reach. There was a discussion (of the ropes) outside. The KKR coach (Abhishek Nayar) also suggested bringing in a spinner and one was seen on the screen. Then I think the TV umpire said the second off-spinner didn’t see it on TV. They must have seen it on TV.“I think he (Tyagi) should have been taken off because the second full toss was above waist height. It’s not allowed,” the veteran umpire pointed out.However, Chaudhary added that he was generally satisfied with the standard of umpiring in IPL 2026. “New umpires are coming in and doing well. There are incidents due to technology and sometimes decisions are based on opinion. So it would not be fair to give a general negative opinion. Many are doing well as umpires.”Other incidents in IPL where players have been sent off for obstructing the fieldYusuf Pathan of KKR on 72, vs Pune Warriors India in 2013Amit Mishra of DC on 1 vs SRH in 2019CSK’s Ravindra Jadeja on 5, vs RR in 2024
