WPL 2025 Explained: Glitch in LED bails force BCCI to introduce new stumping and run-out rule

Harmanpreet Kaur in conversation with the umpires about the Shikha Pandey not-out run-out incident during MI vs DC in WPL 2025 (WPL Photo)

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) has officially updated its playing conditions regarding the use of LED bails in run-out and stumping decisions. The change comes after a dramatic last-ball thriller between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians on February 15, where multiple close run-out calls led to controversy.

Going forward in WPL 2025, the third umpire will only deem the wicket broken when the LED bail is fully dislodged from the stumps. Previously, the playing conditions stated that the stumps were considered broken at the moment the bails lit up. However, a crucial development during this season revealed a flaw in this approach, prompting the rule change.

Why Was the Rule Changed?

The batch of LED bails being used in WPL 2024 has shown an increased sensitivity, lighting up even when both spigots (the small protrusions at the ends of the bail that sit in the grooves of the stumps) had not entirely come off. Under the official Laws of Cricket, a bail is only considered “dislodged” when it is completely removed from its groove. The discrepancy led to confusion and debate, particularly during the high-stakes DC vs MI clash.

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How Do LED Bails Work?

LED bails contain microprocessors that detect movement and light up within 1/1000th of a second when both spigots come off their grooves. These have been widely used in international, bilateral, and domestic cricket, including the IPL and WPL. However, during this WPL season, it was noticed that the bails were flashing even when only one spigot had left the groove, leading to potential misjudgments.

Impact on the DC vs MI Match

During the Capitals-Mumbai fixture, third umpire Gayathri Venugopalan ruled three run-out decisions based on when the bails were fully removed from the stumps rather than the moment they first lit up. While this aligned with the new guidance given to match officials, teams were not informed about the rule update until after last game, sparking a social media uproar.

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What This Means for WPL 2025?

With this clarification, the new standard ensures that umpires will wait for both spigots of the bail to come off before declaring a batter out in run-out and stumping scenarios. This move aims to prevent premature dismissals and bring consistency to decision-making and ultimately ensuring greater fairness.