The Need for Changes in Cricket’s Rulebook: Addressing Loopholes and Controversies

Cricket’s rulebook is extensive and sometimes confusing, with loopholes that need to be addressed. The recent incident in the IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad highlighted one such loophole that is crying out for a change.

In a thrilling encounter, Rajasthan Royals needed 2 runs off 1 ball to defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, Rovman Powell missed a straight full toss, and the umpire gave him out, leading to SRH’s victory. Despite having reviews left, it didn’t matter. The existing rule states that once a batter is dismissed, the ball is deemed dead, regardless of the circumstances.

This rule came under scrutiny in the IPL 2019 final when Shardul Thakur was given out LBW in a similar scenario. If the decision had been wrong, it could have determined the winner of the trophy.

Former South African cricketer Dale Steyn suggested a logical solution to this issue – consider the ball not dead until play has come to a stop. This would allow the batting team to continue running and the fielding team to continue fielding until the play is over. Then, decisions like LBW or caught can be addressed.

Another solution could be to have the bowler re-bowl the delivery every time an umpire makes an incorrect out decision, especially in white-ball cricket. Penalizing the batting team for an umpire’s mistake is a rule that needs to be reconsidered.

The incident in the IPL match has once again brought attention to the need for changes in the rulebook to ensure fair play and accurate outcomes in cricket matches. It is time for the authorities to address these loopholes and make the necessary amendments for the betterment of the game.