deciAfter Royal Challengers Bengaluru registered a record run-chase against Gujarat Titans in the tournament opener, the 2025 Women's Premier League (WPL) saw another thrilling clash on Satuday (February 15) as the Delhi Capitals defeated Mumbai Indians in a last-ball thriller by two wickets at Vadodar's Kotambi Stadium.

However, the match was hit by a major controversy in the final minutes as three run-out calls made by the third umpire in the last three overs of the match ended up having a major effect on the result. In each instance, the TV umpire Gayathri Venugopalan gave a not-out decision which led to criticism coming her way while also putting the rules around LED bails under the spotlight.

On the fourth ball of the 18th over, a direct hit on the striker's line appeared to find Shikha Pandey short of the crease, with replays suggesting that her bat was on the line when the LED light appeared. However, the third umpire gave a not-out decision after viewing the replay multiple times and deciding to settle on the decision based on a later frame. To make matters worse for MI, DC got one run after taking a run on the deflection.

MI skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was visibly displeased at the decision and had a heated chat with the on-field umpires.

Later, another moment of contention came on the penultimate delivery of the 19th over with Radha Yadav in the center of the action. This decision created more confusion as after a mix-up between Yadav and Nikki Prasad, the former faced a nervous wait after wicket-keeper Yastika Bhatia dislodged the stumps on the striker's end. Yadav's bat was hanging in the air when the LED stumps lit up. However, the third umpire once again gave the decision in favour of the batter and based her decision on the basis of when the bails were completely dislodged from the stumps.

Radha rubbed salt on MI's wounds by hitting a six on the last ball of the over to bring the equation down to 10 from 6 from 16 of 7.

There was drama on the final ball of the match with DC needing 2 runs in one delivery as Arudhatti Reddy put up a full-length dive to complete a second run as MI attempted a run-out to take the match into a super over. Once again, the replays suggested that the bat was on the line when the Zing bails lit up, but the third umpire stayed consistent to her previous decisions and gave it not out.

While the third umpire appeared to be giving her decision based on her naked eye of when the bails were completely dislodged from the stumps, the playing conditions of the WPL clearly state that run-out decisions have to be made on the moment the LED lights lit up.

"When using a replay to determine the moment at which the wicket has been put down (as per clause 29.1), the third umpire shall deem this to be the first frame in which one of the bails is shown (or can be deduced) to have lost all contact with the top of the stumps and subsequent frames show the bail permanently removed from the top of the stumps," states rule 4.1 of Appendix D of WPL 2025's playing conditions.

"Where LED Wickets are used (as provided for in paragraph 3.8.1.5) the moment at which the wicket has been put down (as per clause 29.1) shall be deemed to be the first frame in which the LED lights are illuminated and subsequent frames show the bail permanently removed from the top of the stumps," states rule 4.1 of Appendix D of WPL 2025's playing conditions.

For those unversed, cricket rules also suggest that any batter is adjuged out in a run-out decision if his bat is on the line. To be safe, the player has put his willow behind the white lines.

Who Said What?

Indian cricket legend Mithali Raj was critical of the third-umpire and claimed that both Shikha and Radha should have been adjuged out.

"Pandey was given not out while the batter had the bat on the line. When you dive and your bat first hits the ground [inside the crease] and then it [bounces up] because you have to dive full stretch, then it is not out. [But] with Radha Yadav, we can see the blade of the bat up. It is nowhere touching any part of the ground [inside] the crease [when the LED stumps light up]. That means she is out. The bat was never in the crease. That is pretty much out," said Mithali on JioHotstar.

Ex-RCB coach Mike Hesson appeared to echo her views and questioned why it was decided against following the rules regarding zing bails.

"Not sure why the umpire tonight has decided that the zinger bails are not applicable? Once bails lights up connection is lost therefore wicket is broken! That is in the playing conditions! Have seen more confusion in last 10 mins than ever before," wrote Hesson on X.

"Have misunderstood the rules? Were those 2 run outs…out?," wrote ex-Australian captain Lisa Sthalekar on X.

However, DC co-owner Parth Jindal hailed the third-umpire for her decision and called her world class.

"Irrespective of the result in the ongoing WPL i must applaud the 3rd umpire who is absolutely world class - to make that kind of decision and to take the replay so many frames back under so much pressure is world class," wrote Jindal on X.

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