Probably the mother of all controversies of IPL 2020 would be that one-short run of KXIP which cost them two crucial points against the Delhi Capitals.
DC and KXIP open their IPL 2020 campaign against each other and the match was nothing less than a thriller as it got tied and went to the Super Over.
Also read: IPL 2020 Halfway Stage : 10 most unexpected things which have happened this IPL
However, before the match went into Super Over, the TV footage showed that square leg umpire Menon had erred in calling Chris Jordan for a ‘short run’ in the third ball of the 19th over, bowled by Kagiso Rabada.
The TV replays showed that Jordan’s bat was inside the crease when he completed the first run, starting from the non-striker’s end.
However to KXIP’s horror, Menon gestured that Jordan has not completed the run and only one run was added to Mayank Agarwal and the Punjab team’s total. The decision was not reversed despite technological evidence that it was a wrong call.
In the final over, Punjab needed 13 runs to win and Agarwal managed 12 runs in the first three balls.
If that one ‘short run’ was credited to their total, Punjab would have won with three balls to spare but they lost two wickets in the final two balls after a dot fourth ball and it spilled to a Super Over, which the Kings XI lost.
Post the match, former India and KXIP batsman Virender Sehwag lashed out at Menon for his call.
In the commentary box, Gavaskar came up with a comment involving Kohli’s actor wife Anushka.
The remark was in bad taste and did not go down well with the RCB skipper’s fans, with some of them urging the BCCI to remove Gavaskar from the commentary panel.
Later in the day, Anushka Sharma took to Instagram and gave a befitting reply to Gavaskar.
“That, Mr Gavaskar, your message is distasteful is a fact but I would love for you to explain why you thought of making such a sweeping statement on a wife accusing her of her husband’s game?
‘I’m sure over the years you have respected the private lives of every cricketer while commentating on the game. Don’t you think you should have equal amount of respect for me and us?
‘I’m sure you can have many other words and sentences in your mind to use to comment on my husband’s performance from last night or are your words only relevant if you use my name in the process?
‘Its 2020 and things still don’t change for me. When will I stop getting dragged into cricket and stop being used to pass sweeping statements? Respected Mr Gavaskar, you are a legend whose name stands tall in this gentleman’s game. Just wanted to tell you what I felt when I heard you say this,” Anushka Sharma posted on Instagram stories,” Anushka posted on Instagram stories.
IPL 2020 Halfway Stage: MS Dhoni demoting himself to No.7
Imagine Chennai Super Kings chasing a massive 200 plus target and their skipper MS Dhoni comes to bat at no7.
Well, that actually did happen when CSK were chasing a mammoth 217-run target against RR in IPL 2020 game on Tuesday and Dhoni, instead of promoting himself up the order, came to bat at no.7 when his team required 103 runs from 38 balls.
MSD sent the likes of Sam Curran, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Kedar Jadhav ahead of him and CSK ultimately lost the match by 16 runs despite Dhoni hitting three sixes in the final over of the match.
The wicketkeeper-batsman was criticised by many for his decision with former India batsman Gautam Gambhir saying, “I was a bit surprised to be honest. MS Dhoni batting at No. 7? And sending (Ruturaj) Gaikwad, Sam Curran before him. Makes no sense to me. In fact you should be leading from the front.”
“This is not what you call leading from the front. Batting at No. 7 when you’re chasing 217. The game was over. Faf was probably the lone warrior,” he added.
Later, Dhoni argued that he did not get enough time to prepare due to an extended quarantine period, so he did not come to out bat early.
“I haven’t batted for a long time. 14-day quarantine doesn’t help,” CSK skipper said after the match.
Other than controversies, the league saw one unfortunate mishap too. The untimely demise of cricketer turned commentator Dean Jones has left everyone stunned.
Jones, 59, was in Mumbai with the Star Sports’ commentary team for IPL 2020 and he died of sudden cardiac arrest. He was in a bio-bubble in a city hotel. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Jones played 52 Tests and 164 ODIs for Australia and was part of the 1987 World Cup winning team. A player well ahead of his time, Jones scored over ODI 6068 runs at an average of 44.61 with seven hundreds and 46 fifties.
