The recent IPL showdown between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals during the IPL 2024 sparked quite a bit of controversy. Navjot Singh Sidhu, the iconic commentator, has asserted that Sanju Samson’s dismissal during the match against the Delhi Capitals last night was a glaring technological blunder.
After posting a formidable total of 221 runs, the Delhi Capitals put pressure on the Rajasthan Royals to chase down a big target to secure a spot in the playoffs. However, the Royals’ journey began on shaky ground when Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed by Khaleel Ahmed in just the second ball of the first over.
Despite the early setback, skipper Sanju Samson and Jos Buttler held the fort, keeping the required run-rate under control. Buttler, though, struggled to find his rhythm and fell for 19 runs off 17 balls just before the end of the powerplay.
Riyan Parag came in next but could only manage a similar score to Buttler before departing, leaving the Royals at 103/3. Shubham Singh replaced him but could only watch as Samson continued to push the team closer to the target with a flurry of boundaries.
However, the game took a dramatic turn in the 16th over when Mukesh Kumar’s delivery seemed destined for a six off Samson’s bat. Yet, Shai Hope’s remarkable left-handed catch near the boundary raised doubts. After a meticulous review, the third umpire confirmed the catch, forcing Samson to depart for 86 runs.
Following Samson’s dismissal, the Royals struggled to maintain momentum and eventually fell short, scoring 201 runs as the Delhi Capitals clinched victory by 20 runs.
Navjot Singh Sidhu, the former Indian cricketer and commentator, chimed in on the incident as well. He strongly believed that Hope’s feet brushed against the boundary rope, indicating that Samson wasn’t out. Sidhu emphasized that from the side-on angle, it was clear that Shai Hope made contact with the boundary cushion not just once, but twice, further supporting Samson’s claim of being not out.
“The decision that changed the game was Sanju Samson’s dismissal. There could be differences of opinion, but if you look at the side-on angle, it touches the boundary twice. It was pretty clear. Either you don’t use technology, or if you’re using it and the technology is making a mistake, it’s like there’s a fly in milk, and someone asks you to drink it,” Sidhu told Star Sports.
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