Umpiring Howler Cost PBKS IPL 2024 Match vs SRH? A Fact Check On Viral

The Shikhar Dhawan-led Punjab Kings lost a close match in the IPL 2024 against SunRisers Hyderabad on Wednesday. Chasing a target of 183, Punjab Kings could manage 180/6 in 20 overs and lost by two runs. Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma kept the fight on till the last over but the Shikhar Dhawan-led team could not get over the line. However, a post by an X user is going viral where the person claims that Punjab Kings was robbed of two runs as a six by a batter was given a four. If those two runs would have been added to PBKS' final score, the teams would have been tied at the end of 40 overs of play and PBKS would not have lost in regulation time. The match would have then entered the Super Over. 

"This was 14.4 ball from natarajan to jitesh. It was clearly a six but was given as a 4. Umpires didn't even check it thoroughly. What's the use of smart replays @IPL when these mistakes are happening. Raise your voice @realpreityzinta @imohitburman @PunjabKingsIPL," the user named @AbhishikthBds wrote. The person also presented two photos, taken from angle where it seems the ball hit the boundary line cushion. The host that JItesh Sharma hit was given a four but in case of a ball hitting the line directly, a six is given. 

This was 14.4 ball from natarajan to jitesh. It was clearly a six but was given as a 4. Umpires didn't even check it thoroughly. What's the use of smart replays @IPL when these mistakes are happening. Raise your voice @realpreityzinta @imohitburman @PunjabKingsIPL pic.twitter.com/ervotDPTt6 — AbhishikthBds (@AbhishikthBds) April 10, 2024

However, the claim is not correct. The angle from which the phot was taken made the visual deceptive. In fact the onfield umpires checked with the third umpires (as is the norm in case of contentious calls) before giving it a four. 

It was not a SIX.

1. It was the correct call made since the ball bounced before the rope (Pic 1)

2. The umpire quickly referred it upstairs (Pic 2) and the 3rd umpire (with the benefit of multiple camera angles + zoomer) gave it a FOUR pic.twitter.com/y3JX3RZD8b — Jeet Vachharajani (@Jeetv27) April 10, 2024

The decision was taken quickly & I assume it didn't allow time for it to be shown on the tele.

Hope, this rock-and-roll clears it up. pic.twitter.com/bUAzd117z3 — Jeet Vachharajani (@Jeetv27) April 10, 2024

Meanwhile, former India opener Aakash Chopra lauded Punjab Kings (PBKS) batters Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma following their marvellous performance against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.

All hope seemed to have gone when Punjab required 51 runs in the last three overs, but Shashank-Ashutosh duo smashed 66 runs off just 27 balls to take their team so close to the target.

The heroes for Punjab in the previous game, put up a brave fight again this time against SRH as Shashank hit three boundaries in an over off Bhuvneshwar Kumar and his partner Ashutosh struck back-to-back fours off SRH captain Cummins, giving PBKS hope of victory at their home

"Prabhsimran Singh also got out. Sam Curran played decently for quite a while but when he got out, it seemed like it was done and dusted. Sikandar Raza and Jitesh Sharma played short knocks. However, it still seemed like they were far behind and that it's not going to happen," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

The former cricketer lauded both the batters. He said that they batted incredibly well and both of them have impressed everyone once again.

"I am surprised that they reached so close because it didn't seem like the match could reach till there. Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma batted incredibly well once again and both impressed a lot. Ashutosh Sharma's power is of a different level. It seemed like Shashank Singh played one or two balls less as he hit a six off the last ball as well," the commentator added.

With ANI inputs