WPL 2025: MI coach Edwards questions umpiring after three run-out decisions influence outcome of match against DC

Taking a dig at the controversial run-out decisions that played a big role in her team’s last-ball, two-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals (DC), Mumbai Indians (MI) coach Charlotte Edwards said it was “really hard” to comprehend such calls that affect the eventual outcome of the match.

Three controversial run-out decisions sparked a debate as Delhi Capitals edged past MI in a Women’s Premier League (WPL) match on Saturday, raising concerns over the interpretation of the LED stumps rules.

Third umpire Gayathri Venugopalan ruled three DC batters – Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy and Shikha Pandey – not out, seemingly disregarding the moment the LED stumps first lit up after the ball made initial contact with the wickets.

“You’ve got to stay pretty calm. It is really hard when there are many decisions to go to the third umpire. The result of the game is looking at the big screen,” said Edwards, the two-time World Cup-winning England skipper, after MI’s narrow defeat.

“It’s pretty hard. I’ve played the game and been around the game to know… it’s the game and we just have to move on. We look forward to playing here on Tuesday,” she added.

While commentating on the match, former India captain Mithali Raj also had observed that decisions on Arundhati and Radha should have gone in MI’s favour.

The WPL 2025 rules state that a wicket is considered broken at the first frame when the LED stumps light up, but in all three cases here, the umpire made decisions based on a second frame – when the bails were fully dislodged.

The first controversy surfaced in the 18th over when Pandey’s bat was on the crease line as the LED stumps lit up, but the umpire ruled not out based on the second frame. However, she was run out for two in the next over.

But decisions with far bigger ramifications followed.

In the 19th over, Radha dived and her bat was still up in the air when the stumps were first illuminated, but the third umpire considered the next frame, where the bat was grounded when the bails were fully dislodged, to give the batter not out.

A similar decision in the final ball of the 20th over saw Arundhati deemed safe despite her bat being on the crease line when the LED lights on the stumps first flashed, as the DC batter was running in for the second run.

The decisions worked in favour of DC, as Radha (nine not out) Arundhati (two not out) secured a dramatic last-ball win.

MI skipper Harmanpreet Kaur looked frustrated but did not formally protest.

Former RCB (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) director of cricket Mike Hesson also expressed his disbelief over the umpire’s decision.

“Not sure why the umpire tonight has decided that the zinger bails are not applicable? Once bails lights up connection is lost therefore the wicket is broken! That is in the playing conditions! Have seen more confusion in the last 10 mins than ever before,” he posted on X.