A major controversy erupted during India’s Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match against Australia due to a contentious LBW decision. In the 17th over of Australia’s innings, Phoebe Litchfield attempted a reverse sweep off Deepti Sharma but missed the ball, which hit her pads.
The on-field umpire initially gave Litchfield out LBW, favouring India. However, after a review, the third umpire ruled that the ball had pitched outside the leg stump and reversed the decision. Indian players, including Smriti Mandhana, expressed their frustration, arguing that since Litchfield switched her stance, she should have been treated as a right-hander for the delivery.
Rules and Decision Justification
The controversy centered around how the switch hit is treated in LBW decisions. India’s players believed that Litchfield, having changed her stance, should have been judged as a right-hander, which might have led to her being out. However, according to the MCC rules, the off and on sides of the wicket are determined by the batter’s original stance when the ball is delivered.
This meant that even though Litchfield switched to a right-handed stance, the ball’s initial trajectory outside her leg stump prevented her from being given out LBW. MCC Law 36.3 clearly states that the batting position at the moment the ball comes into play dictates the off side, not any changes during the shot.
India’s Struggle to Qualify After Loss
India’s frustration with the LBW decision was compounded by their narrow defeat to Australia, losing by nine runs. Chasing a target of 152, India ended at 142 for 9, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur leading the fightback with an unbeaten 54 off 47 balls. Contributions from Deepti Sharma (29) and Shafali Verma (20) were not enough to secure a win.
Australia, with 151 for 8, was led by Grace Harris’s 40 runs and key knocks from Tahlia McGrath and Ellyse Perry. India finished their group campaign with two wins and two losses, leaving their semifinal qualification uncertain. Meanwhile, Australia advanced, and New Zealand awaited their match against Pakistan for a spot in the semifinals.
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