WPL 2025: What is the run-out controversy in Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals, reactions, and what does the rule state

WPL 2025: What is the run-out controversy in Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals

The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 has witnessed two brilliant clashes with the last one between Delhi Capitals Women and Mumbai Indians Women at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on Saturday being an absolute thriller. Mumbai Indians, who were invited to bat, posted a modest 164/10 on the board in 19.1 overs, which featured an unbeaten 59-ball 80 by England's Nat Sciver-Brunt.

In response, Delhi got off to a strong start with Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning adding 60 runs for the first wicket inside the powerplay overs. Verma did bulk of the scoring and smashed 43 off just 18 balls, while Lanning contributed 15 off 19 to the partnership. However, the dismissal triggered a brief collapse as Delhi were soon reduced to 76/4 in 8.5 overs. The shift in momentum allowed Mumbai to bounce back and what initially appeared as an easy chase got trickier.

Delhi eventually went to win the match by two wickets but the fate remained hanging until the final delivery was bowled, also leading to a run-out controversy. With two runs required in the final ball, Arundhati Reddy managed to get the runs but had to do it by putting in a strong drive while completing the second run.

The action began with Reddy hitting a back of a length ball by Sajeevan Sajana over covers, which saw elevation but was missing the distance. The batters comfortably completed the single, and while running for the second an excellent throw by Harmanpreet Kaur saw wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia whip the bails off, forcing Reddy to put in the extra effort.

The decision was sent upstairs, leaving third-umpire Gayathri Venugopalan with a very tough call to make, which was ultimately given in Reddy's favour. The replays showed the Zing bails illuminated before Reddy's bat had fully crossed the crease. But TV umpire seemed really keen on ensuring that both bails came off in contrast to the bails lighting up theory, which triggered massive debate on social media.

Previously batters were declared out when the bails lost contact with the stumps but if the Zing bails are in use, like in the ongoing WPL, the led lights confirms there's no contact between it and the stumps.

pic.twitter.com/C1XfOSlj5I
Lolzzz (@CricketerMasked) February 15, 2025

Other run-out controversies in the match

The first controversy surfaced in the 18th over when Shikha Pandey’s bat was on the crease line as the LED stumps lit up, but the umpire ruled not out based on the second frame. However, she was run out for two in the next over. But decisions with far bigger ramifications followed.

In the 19th over, Radha Yadav dived and her bat was still up in the air when the stumps were first illuminated, but the third umpire considered the next frame, where the bat was grounded when the bails were fully dislodged, to give the batter not-out.

What are the experts saying?

Mithali Raj on JioStar: “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.”

Meanwhile, Mike Hesson, former RCB (Royal Challengers Bangalore) director of cricket operations was also very much baffled with the call. "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,” he wrote on X.

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 #WPL2025 #MIvDC #wpl #runout Mike Hesson (@CoachHesson) February 15, 2025

Delhi Capitals' co-owner shares his thoughts

Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal, on the other hand, had a positive reaction towards the third umpire, 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," he wrote on X but deleted the post later.

A screenshot of the post

What does the rule say?

The rule states: "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."