Robin Uthappa's controversial run !

Yesterday, DC and RR meet each other in the reverse fixture at Dubai. In this return fixture, DC had won the toss and decided to bat first. After good crucial fifties from both Shreyas Iyer and Shikhar Dhawan, DC scored 161/7 at the end of their 20 overs. In reply, RR scored 148/7 with a collapse from 14th over. So, with this win, DC had won the game in 13 runs and also topped the Points Table. 

Along with this, during yesterday's game, there were a controversial run by Robin Uthappa, which might raise questions over umpire's clarity towards decisions. In this blog, I'm gonna explain the scenario along with the Law actually explains which is suggested in Laws of Cricket.

During Yesterday's game, when RR team were batting, Robin Uthappa and Riyan Parag where on the crease. At 11th over, Tushar Deshpande were bowling to them. At the 4th delivery, Robin Uthappa clipped the ball straight, and tried attempting a run. At non strikers' end, Riyan Parag cancelled the run. during which halfway through the mark, Robin Uthappa tried returning to the striker's end. A throw came in, while he was running from OFF side to towards LEG side. This were raised questions, in which DC team, asked the umpire for appeal to Obstructing the field, as they thought Robin Uthappa changed the line of the ball, directed towards the stumps. After seeing replays, umpires gave soft signal as NOT OUT. 

This were raised questions, which I have decided to explain, in simple English. As per Law 37, it is said that, 

1. In the act of playing the ball, if the batsman strikes the ball intentionally with the hand not holding the bat, ( unless this is to avoid injury )

2. If the batsman, wilfully distracts a fielder to grab a catch

3. While the ball is in play, without the notice of fielding team, if the batsman uses his bat or any part of his person, to return the ball to any fielder

These 3 will commence to be given out !

Also, these were seen that, if the batsman changes the line of the ball directing towards the stumps will be given out under Obstructing the field. This incident had occurred in previous year IPL, during which Amit Mishra changed the line of the ball thrown by Khaleel Ahmed, directing towards the stumps.

In this scenario, Robin Uthappa ran from off side to leg side. Many had seen this as changing the line of ball. But, if we look into this so closely, before the throw were made, before the time the ball left the hand of the fielder, he ran in the cross direction, so it has been given as NOT OUT. Still, running in the stump line should have been given a warning, as the batsman / bowler should not run in the stump line of the pitch. Also, repeated acts tend to penalty of 5 runs. These umpires failed to notice this. but when it comes to obstructing the field, the decision given is right !