WPL: Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians run out controversy – What are the rules?

The second match of the 2025 Women's Premier League between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals on Saturday resulted in two controversial run out decisions as the latter clinched the match with two wickets in hand.

The third umpire was needed to to make some tight calls in the second innings and all those calls went in favour of the two-time finalists Capitals, who started their campaign with a win on the final delivery of the match.

Opting to bowl first, the Delhi Capitals bowled out Mumbai Indians for 164 in 19.1 overs before they chase down the target with new batter Arundati Reddy scoring two runs off the final ball.

Controversial calls

But earlier in the contest, there were two controversial calls made by the third umpire Gayatri Venugopalan. The first was in the 18th over when Shikha Pandey was adjudged not out before Radha Yadav too benefited in the penultimate over.

Yadav played a crucial role in the chase, hitting a six off the first ball of the final over to help the Capitals closer to the target.

Even with the final ball of the match, Reddy had a close shave as she scampered for a second run.

In all three incidents, the third umpire asked for multiple camera angles, analysing each of them frame by frame for minutes before arriving at her decision.

Mumbai Indians did argue when Pandey was adjudged not out in the 18th over but once the on-field umpires explained captain Harmanpreet Kaur the situation, they moved on. They accepted the other two calls without any commotion as well.

As per Venugopalan's interpretation, when did the LED lights of the stumps lit up did not matter. Instead the focus was on when both the bails were completely dislodged from the wickets.

What does the rule say?

But, as per the Playing Conditions for the WPL, the third umpire might have got it wrong.

"Where LED wickets are used (as provided in paragraph 3.8.1.5) the moment at which the wicket has been put down (as per clause 29.1) shall be deemed the first frame in which the LED lights are illuminated and subsequent frames show the bail permanently removed from the stumps," the document read.

The clause 29.1 referred above further states, "The wicket is broken when at least one bail is completely removed from top of the stumps, one or more stumps is removed from the ground."

Reactions

Venugopalan's decision did not sit well with the Mumbai Indians fans as well as quite a few experts.

Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru coach Mike Hesson felt that the third umpire might have gotten it wrong.

“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," he tweeted. "That is in the playing conditions! Have seen more confusion in last 10 mins than ever before.”