The Indian Premier League (IPL), a high-octane cricket tournament, thrives on its explosive batting, strategic bowling, and lightning-fast fielding. But amidst the flurry of boundaries and diving catches, there exists a rare dismissal – getting out for ‘obstructing the field‘.
This dismissal, unlike the more common ones, penalizes batsmen who hinder the fielding side’s attempt to effect a run-out. While the IPL has witnessed countless sixes and dramatic catches, obstructing the field dismissals remain a true rarity. It’s happened only a handful number of times in the competition, which we will explore below on this page.
The third umpires have to carefully check to see if the batter intentionally blocked an on-field throw, that could’ve got him stumped, run out, or dismissed in any other fashion in a match. If in the case of a run out, the umpire believes that a batter didn’t intentionally change the course of his run when the ball hit him, he can be adjudged not out.
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Last updated as of 14th May 2024, only three batsmen have been dismissed in this manner throughout the history of the tournament. See below for our complete list of ‘Obstructing the field’ dismissals in the Indian Premier League, and be sure that we’ll keep adding names to this list as and when the occurrences increase in the future.
Obstructing the field dismissals in the IPL
| Batsman | Date | Team | Score | Details |
| Yusuf Pathan | 15th May 2013 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 72(44) | Deliberately kicked the ball away while rotating the strike; first player to be out obstructing the field in T20 cricket. |
| Amit Mishra | 8th May 2019 | Delhi Capitals | 1(2) | Changed his running line while Khaleel Ahmed threw the ball at the stumps, impeding a potential run-out. |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 12th May 2024 | Chennai Super Kings | 5(6) | Denied a double by his partner, he blocked a throw from keeper Sanju Samson when returning to the non-striker’s end. |
| TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Yusuf Pathan’s pioneering obstructing the field dismissal (2013)
The first time an IPL batsman was dismissed for obstructing the field came in 2013. Yusuf Pathan, the swashbuckling all-rounder playing for Kolkata Knight Riders, found himself in an unusual predicament. While attempting to rotate the strike, Pathan deliberately kicked the ball away, preventing the Pune Warriors bowler from collecting it for a potential run-out. This dismissal, the first of its kind in T20 cricket, sparked discussions about the interpretation of the obstructing the field rule and the importance of fair play.
Amit Mishra’s Untimely Exit (2019)
Six years later, in 2019, another rare instance occurred. Amit Mishra, the veteran leg-spinner playing for Delhi Capitals, found himself at the wrong end of an obstructing the field decision. During a tense chase, Mishra attempted to steal a run but changed his running line at the last moment, hindering the throw from the fielder and potentially saving his wicket. The umpire, however, deemed it a deliberate attempt to obstruct and dismissed him, leaving Delhi Capitals in a precarious position.
Ravindra Jadeja’s Controversial Dismissal (2024)
The most recent instance, just a few weeks ago in May 2024, involved the all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. While batting for Chennai Super Kings, Jadeja was denied a double by his partner and had to scramble back to the non-striker’s end. Seeing the throw coming in, he moved into the line of the stumps, obstructing the fielder’s attempt at a run-out. This dismissal sparked debate, with some arguing it was a genuine attempt to save his wicket and others seeing it as a deliberate obstruction.
Ravindra Jadeja given out obstructing the field.
– 3rd time happened in IPL history. pic.twitter.com/lJNolzBc1L
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 12, 2024
These dismissals highlight the complexities of the obstructing the field rule. While the rule aims to ensure fair play by preventing batsmen from hindering fielding efforts, the line between a genuine attempt to save one’s wicket and deliberate obstruction can be blurry. As the IPL continues to evolve, the interpretation and application of this rule will likely remain a talking point, ensuring that these rare dismissals continue to generate discussion and controversy. For similar cricketing news from around the world, stay tuned to ReadScoops.com…
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