Poor umpiring in IPL: Two-times lucky Kevin Pietersen gets away with yet another run-out call

Shambolic umpiring continued in the 7th season of Indian Premier League, when Kevin Pietersen got a reprieve for the 2nd time in this IPL due to an umpiring blunder.

During the 3rd over of Delhi Daredevils’ chase, skipper Kevin Pietersen had a close shave when Unmukt Chand affected a direct hit at the striker’s end and KP, having his bat stuck in the mud, ended short of the crease with his foot in the air when the ball hit the stumps.

Here’s the frame which make it clear:

KP was short of his crease when the bails were dislodged by a direct hit from fielder Unmukt Chand

The twitterati were quick to criticise this blunder:

In fact, this is not the first time this has happened. Previously too in Ferozeshah Kotla, KP was given the benefit of doubt by the on-field umpire Sanjay Hazare, when the batsman failed to reach the crease before the bails were dislodged. Coincidentally, the opposition on that occasion was Rajasthan Royals again.

Here’s the previous time when KP was saved due to umpiring error:

On that occasion, umpire Sanjay Hazare had to face the consequences of not referring the decision upstairs to 3rd umpire, as he was removed from the IPL match officials panel.

“He has been removed. There are many reasons,” IPL Chairman Rajib Biswal had commented on the decision to sack Hazare, who in turn had accepted his mistake. “I told him [the match referee] the same thing. It was a human error. Once I had made the decision I could not correct it,” Hazare said.

In Ahmedabad, the umpire was S Ravi, who opted to take the call himself. There was also an issue of feeble appealing from Rajasthan Royals this time, with only one or two players asking the umpire half-heartedly to go upstairs.

Whether S Ravi gets the same ‘punishment’ from BCCI for this error or whether he’s able to walk away from this unharmed, remains to be seen.

Two #RRvsDD matches. On both matches, KP was run-out. On both occasions, umpire didn't refer it. pic.twitter.com/yHEjAaKlaO

— Alchemist (@iBestest) May 15, 2014

Lighting does strike twice. In two matches against Rajasthan Royals KP's run out, but the umpire doesn't refer it. #PepsiIPL

— Sahil Mehta (@sahilmehta7) May 15, 2014

Seen so many absurd run out appeals being referred.. What happened there?! KP incredibly lucky to still be there

— Yash Asthana (@YashAsthana87) May 15, 2014

OMG. It is KP again. Run out again. Not referred again.. Indian umpire again.. WTH.. The Most luckiest player ever.. #RRvsDD #PepsiIPL

— Yokesh (@ImYokEsH) May 15, 2014

Kevin Pietersen was just superbly run out by Sanju Samson and the umpire didn't even review. KP survives. #DDvRR #IPL pic.twitter.com/ullqW6dkiK

— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) May 3, 2014