Women’s Premier League 2023 may have begun with a lot of fanfare, but the standard of umpiring has been questionable. In the very first season of the Women’s Premier League, there is a provision for DRS to be taken incase the players feel the call to give a wide or ball was improper. On Sunday, this rule came back to help the on field umpire from suffering an embarrassing moment in front of million viewers
The story as it happened –
Sunday, 5th March was a double header day. Delhi Capitals had won the first game of the day by beating Royal Challengers Bangalore by 60 runs. In the 2nd game, it was the turn of UP Wizards led by Alyssa Healy to take on Sneh Rana led Gujarat Giants.
Healy takes DRS after a horrendous call by umpire –
The incident in question happened in the 10th over of the Gujarat innings with Rajeshwari Gayakwad bowling to Sushma Verma. The batter moved across to play a scoop shot and missed the line of the ball.
Having missed the connection, even Healy the wicket keeper for UP Wizards failed to collect the ball clean. The umpire stretched his hands to give it a wide, there was chaos and confusion as Healy took DRS. The 3rd umpire relayed the ball to be fair and the on-field umpire had no choice but to reverse the decision.
Wide ball call turned for a 2nd time –
This isn’t the first time such an incident has happened in the 2 days of the Women’s Premier League being played. The first game between Mumbai and Gujarat also saw confusion in the ranks and captaining Harmanpreet Kaur resorting to take the DRS.
Mumbai and Bangalore lock horns in a big clash –
The game on Monday will witness Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore take on each other. Mumbai made a winning start by beating Gujarat in the opening game on Saturday. Smriti Mandhana and her team lost by 60 runs to Delhi thanks to twin half century by Shefali Verma and Meg Lanning.
Twitter reacts –
The Absurd call for wide had the fans as stunned as the players on the ground and you can read all the comments from fans below.
— WPL MAHARASTRA (@WMaharastra) March 5, 2023
Wait what, how was that given a wide in the first place? 😂 Just to use the review or what, daiis.#WPL2023
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) March 5, 2023
Bad experience in wpl 2023.#WPL2023 #JioCinemaDelivers pic.twitter.com/39WYPlEkFH
— Abhay Sagar (@AbhaySa78990420) March 5, 2023
#WPL Going to next level as there have been reviews for No ball and wide balls. Really unfolding new things for me personally.#GGvUPW
— Himanshu shukla (@shukla__him) March 5, 2023