The 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) delivered yet another high-octane encounter as Delhi Capitals edged past Mumbai Indians in a nerve-wracking last-ball thriller at Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium.
However, what should have been a celebration of gripping cricket turned into a storm of controversy. Three crucial run-out decisions in the final three overs, all ruled in favor of the batting side, sparked heated debates over the interpretation of LED bail technology and the accuracy of third umpire Gayathri Venugopalan’s verdicts.
The drama unfolded in the 18th over when Shikha Pandey was at the center of the first contentious decision. Attempting a quick single after missing a delivery, Pandey was sent back and found herself in a tight spot as a direct hit crashed into the stumps. Replays suggested that her bat was on the crease line precisely when the LED bails lit up. However, after reviewing multiple angles, the third umpire adjudged her not out, citing a later frame where her bat had fully crossed the crease. Adding insult to injury for Mumbai, Delhi managed to steal a bye off the deflection, further shifting the momentum in their favor. An irate Harmanpreet Kaur was seen in an animated conversation with the on-field umpires, questioning the ruling.
The second major controversy arrived in the 19th over when Radha Yadav found herself caught in a mix-up with her partner, Niki Prasad. As wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia swiftly dislodged the stumps, replays revealed Radha’s bat hovering above the crease when the LED lights first illuminated. Yet again, the third umpire ruled in favor of the batter, choosing to consider a later frame where the bails were completely off their grooves, by which time Radha had safely made her ground. To rub salt in Mumbai’s wounds, she smashed a six off the very next delivery, significantly tilting the chase in Delhi’s favor.
The final flashpoint came on the last ball of the match, with DC needing two runs to win. Arundhati Reddy, displaying nerves of steel, pushed the ball past cover and sprinted back for the second run. Mumbai’s fielders executed a sharp throw to the wicketkeeper, who broke the stumps as Reddy dived desperately. Once again, replays showed her bat positioned on the crease line when the LED bails first lit up. However, staying consistent with her previous decisions, the third umpire ruled her not out, declaring that the wicket was not completely dislodged when the lights flashed. The call sealed DC’s victory, leaving Mumbai Indians in disbelief while the Capitals celebrated a hard-fought win.
Former India captain Mithali Raj, who was on commentary for the match, did not shy away from expressing her concerns regarding the umpiring decisions. She firmly believed that two of the crucial rulings should have gone in MI’s favor.
“Pandey was given not out while the batter had the bat on the line,” Raj stated while speaking on Jio Hotstar after the match.
Addressing the Radha Yadav incident, she explained why, in her opinion, the decision was incorrect.
“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.”
The controversy has ignited fresh discussions about the interpretation of LED bails in cricket. According to Appendix D of the WPL 2025 playing conditions, “Where LED wickets are used, the moment at which the wicket has been put down 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.”
If the rule is applied strictly, Mumbai may have a strong case for feeling hard done by, as the initial frames in all three instances indicated the batters were either on the line or outside the crease when the LED lights first activated. However, the third umpire seemed to favor a different interpretation, basing her verdicts on when the bails were completely removed from the stumps.
Mumbai’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s visible frustration on the field was a reflection of the team’s disappointment, particularly given the stakes of the match. This controversy will undoubtedly add fuel to the ongoing debate about the reliability and consistency of LED bail technology in determining runouts.
The Delhi Capitals will now shift their focus to a high-stakes clash against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on February 17. They will need to put the controversy behind them and bring their A-game against a formidable RCB outfit. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Indians will aim to bounce back from this heartbreak when they take on Gujarat Giants on February 18.
Loves all things female cricket
