The high-stakes eliminator Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) was marred by a controversial decision involving Dinesh Karthik, which left many bewildered, including commentators and team officials. Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar, who was providing commentary, expressed his confusion over the third umpire’s call that allowed Karthik to survive an LBW appeal.
This decision became a significant talking point during the match. The incident occurred on the third ball of the 15th over when Avesh Khan delivered a ball that sharply swung back in and struck Karthik on the pads. The on-field umpire immediately ruled it out. Karthik, initially accepting the decision, was persuaded by his batting partner Mahipal Lomror to opt for a DRS review.
The replay showed a minor spike on the ultra edge when the ball passed close to the bat. However, it appeared that the spike was due to the bat hitting the pads rather than the ball. Despite the lack of clear evidence of bat contact with the ball, the third umpire overturned the on-field decision and declared Karthik not out. Sunil Gavaskar, confused by the outcome, remarked, “The bat has hit the pad, the bat has not hit the ball.” This comment highlighted his perplexity over the decision.
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Dinesh Karthik ne 11 run ke liye umpire ki naukari khatre me daal di 😅pic.twitter.com/wooH5qMRIg
— CricXtra (@CricXtra_) May 22, 2024
Karthik Falters Despite Luck as RCB Stumbles in Eliminator
Despite the reprieve, Karthik could not capitalize on his luck, scoring only 11 runs off 13 balls before being dismissed. This was a rare underperformance for Karthik, who had been in good form throughout the season. RCB struggled to build a substantial total in the eliminator, losing wickets at regular intervals and ending their innings at a modest 172/8 in 20 overs. Avesh Khan was instrumental for RR, taking three crucial wickets, while Ravichandran Ashwin contributed significantly with two wickets for just 19 runs.
Rajat Patidar emerged as the top scorer for RCB with 34 runs, followed by contributions from Virat Kohli (33) and Mahipal Lomror (32). Earlier in the match, RR’s captain Sanju Samson chose to field after winning the toss. The two teams entered the eliminator with contrasting recent performances. RR had lost four of their last five games, with one match yielding no result. Conversely, RCB was on a winning streak, having secured six consecutive victories and aiming for a seventh to advance to Qualifier 2.
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