The adrenaline was at an all-time high as the third T20I of the five-match series unfolded, culminating in a nerve-wracking 5-wicket triumph for Australia over India. While India seemed to have a firm hold on the match for the majority of the play, control slipped through their fingers in the closing stages, particularly during the last two overs. At the heart of the drama was wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan, whose actions during a crucial moment became a contentious turning point.
In the frantic penultimate 19th over, with Australia’s back against the wall, all-rounder Axar Patel stepped in to bowl, summoned by India’s star batter Suryakumar Yadav. Matthew Wade, then struggling to time the ball well, seized upon the matchup against Patel’s left-arm spin. Wade launched a powerful assault, lashing out two boundaries within the first three deliveries. With momentum building, Patel aimed a wide delivery in an attempt to outdo Wade, who swung wildly but missed. Kishan quickly gathered the ball and shattered the stumps, prompting an assertive appeal for stumping which led India to call for a review.
The subsequent events, however, unfolded to India’s dismay. What many didn’t anticipate was the review translating into a costly penalty for India — an extra ball and a free hit granted to Australia. Kishan was found to have violated a fundamental rule; he had collected the ball just in front of the stumps, effectively overstepping his position. Under the laws governed by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), such an action is prohibited until the ball has passed the stumps or the batsman has attempted a stroke.
Specifically, Law 27.3.1 stipulates, “The wicket-keeper shall remain wholly behind the wicket at the striker’s end from the moment the ball comes into play until a ball delivered by the bowler touches the bat or person of the striker or passes the wicket at the striker’s end, or the striker attempts a run.” The penalty for infringement, as stated in Law 27.3.2, is for the umpire to signal a no-ball immediately after the delivery in question.
The aftermath of the controversial no-ball call saw Wade capitalize by dispatching the following delivery for a six. Kishan’s day went from bad to worse as he let a subsequent speedy delivery from Patel pass by, culminating in a 22-run deluge from the over. Prasidh Krishna followed Patel’s suit, bleeding 23 runs in his over, thereby sealing India’s defeat — their first setback in the series.
In the aftermath of this chaotic match, Indian fans and players alike were left to grapple with the heartache of what could have been, while the Australian team celebrated keeping their hopes alive in the series. India, stung by the twist of fate, is already casting their gaze forward to the next match in Raipur, planning for a decisive comeback. Meanwhile, Australian players not part of the ICC T20 World Cup squad will make their journey home, undoubtedly buoyed by the win and the drama that surrounded it. As the dust settles on this gripping encounter, the intricacies of cricket laws and the fine margins they govern have once again been thrust into the limelight, leaving an indelible mark on what is fast becoming an unforgettable series.