Did Mumbai Indians cheat against PBKS? Did they tamper with the DRS? Many are concerned after a video circulating on social media has sparked a firestorm of controversy. This raised serious questions about fair play in the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) clash between MI and the Punjab Kings.
How Did MI Cheat Against PBKS?
The edge-of-the-seat encounter, ultimately won by MI by a narrow margin of 9 runs thanks to Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling heroics, has been overshadowed by the potential DRS violation. The video appears to show a member of the Mumbai Indians contingent, believed to be Tim David, signaling for a DRS review during a tense moment in the match. What adds fuel to the fire is David seemingly realizing he’s on camera and attempting to conceal the gesture.
Curran’s Complaints Unheard
Punjab Kings’ stand-in captain, Sam Curran, can be seen in the video voicing his concerns to the umpire regarding the signal. However, his complaints were reportedly ignored. The review itself resulted in a wide being called in favor of the MI batsman.
This incident has ignited outrage among fans. Was this a deliberate attempt to influence the DRS? Did the umpires fail to act on a clear violation? These are just some of the questions demanding answers. The controversy has also drawn criticism from former cricketers.
What Former Cricketers Said?
Former cricketer, and commentator Murali Kartik questioning the wide call. “Seriously? He (batter) was already outside the off stump. I thought, the line moved (as the batter moved). That’s touch and go,” he said on-air when umpire Menon ruled the wide decision in favor of the MI batter.
Australia former cricketer Tom Moody advocated for specialist third umpires to minimize such questionable decisions. “It’s time we considered having specialist 3rd umpires, too many questionable decisions being made. Some umpires are better suited on field, the 3rd umpire requires experience and a certain skill set,” Moody wrote on X.