Two reviews in one ball: Ashwin engages in a rarest of rare events in the ongoing TNPL
Two reviews in one ball: During an unusual play in a Tamil Nadu Premier League game between Dindigul Dragons and Ba11sy Trichy in Coimbatore, two players reviewed the same ball delivered by R Ashwin. In the 13th over, Trichy’s R Rajkumar successfully challenged an on-field caught-behind call by umpire K Srinivasan. As a result, Ashwin requested a second review of the call.
The captain of Dindigul, Ashwin, appeared to be dissatisfied with the first judgement being reversed and spoke with both on-field umpires, Srinivasan and MV Saidharshan Kumar. The TV umpire, S Nishaanth, once more determined that it was not out.
Two reviews in one ball: Ashwin engages in a rarest of rare events in the ongoing TNPL
Right-handed batsman Rajkumar was struck by a carrom ball that Ashwin turned away, and wicketkeeper B Indrajith successfully caught the ball behind the stumps. Nishaanth determined after many replays that the bat, not the ball, had made contact. The TV umpire “saw a gap between bat and ball” when the UltraEdge recorded a significant spike when the bat touched the ground. According to him, the separation was large enough to overturn the on-field out choice.
The TV umpire reexamined the UltraEdge graphics after the second review and concluded that the “spike was due to the bat hitting the ground” and that there was “a gap between bat and ball.”
As Dindigul went on to win by six wickets, the ruling had no bearing on the outcome. But Ashwin conveyed his disappointment with the choice after the game.
“Looking at the big screen, I felt [it was out],” he said at the post-match presentation. “DRS is a new rule in this competition. The spike [on UltraEdge] generally comes ahead of the bat, even if there is an edge. And to overturn the on field call, there has to be conclusive evidence. That they overturned it, I was slightly not happy. So, I reviewed it, hoping they [umpires] might look at it from a different angle.”
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Although the TNPL is in its eighth season, this is the first time DRS and the Impact Player rule have been used.
Ashwin had stated that he intended to be available for the full TNPL 2023 at the TNPL auction that was conducted in Mahabalipuram on February 23. But if the Dragons advance to the playoffs, which begin on July 7, Ashwin would probably be unable to play because India’s tour of the West Indies will start on July 12 with the first Test in Dominica.
Washington Sundar made his TNPL debut for Siechem Madurai Panthers earlier on Wednesday after he recovered from a hamstring injury in the afternoon match in Coimbatore. Washington led Madurai to a six-wicket loss against Nellai Royal Kings by scoring 19 off 17 balls at number four and bowling two wicketless overs for 17 runs.
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