The historic one-off T20I between India and Japan ended with a dramatic umpiring controversy, with a crucial wide-ball decision in the final over becoming the biggest talking point of the match. Japan, despite missing several key players, pushed India to the limit and needed just six runs from four balls at one stage. Axar Patel then bowled a delivery down the leg side to Japan batter Alexander Shirai-Patmore, who attempted a reverse sweep but failed to make contact.
The on-field umpire initially called the delivery a wide. However, after protests from Axar and India captain Shreyas Iyer, the decision was overturned following a discussion between the officials. The reversal sparked criticism and raised questions about how the wide-ball law should be applied when a batter attempts unconventional strokes such as a reverse sweep.
In ODI and T20I cricket, the wide-ball law is designed to prevent bowlers from consistently bowling outside a batter’s reach. However, the regulations do not simply state that every delivery passing down the leg side must automatically be called a wide. According to the ICC playing conditions, a delivery is judged wide if it passes sufficiently outside the striker’s reach and would also have passed wide of a batter standing in a normal batting position.
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Law 22.1.2 states that a ball is considered wide unless it is sufficiently within the striker’s reach for the batter to hit it with the bat using a normal cricket stroke. The umpires are also instructed to apply the law consistently to prevent negative bowling. That wording becomes particularly relevant when a batter attempts a reverse sweep or switch hit.
— Ben Gardner (@Ben_Wisden) September 22, 2026
In the India-Japan incident, one interpretation is that the delivery could have been within Shirai-Patmore’s reach had he attempted a normal cricket stroke. India could therefore argue that the ball should not have been called wide. However, there is also room for debate because Axar’s delivery spun sharply towards the leg side, making it difficult to determine whether the batter could realistically have reached it.
The ICC laws also allow an umpire to change a decision in certain circumstances. Law 2.12 states that an umpire may alter a decision provided the change is made promptly and does not contradict the dead-ball provisions. Once made, an umpire’s decision is otherwise considered final.
A missed reverse sweep down the leg side – and the umpire changes his call for wide #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/spuRw3rPVQ
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 19, 2024
There is also a precedent for such a decision being changed. During the first women’s T20I between Australia and New Zealand in September 2024, a delivery was initially called wide after Ellyse Perry attempted and missed a reverse sweep. The on-field umpire subsequently changed the decision.
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That incident highlights why the India-Japan controversy is not entirely without precedent. Ultimately, the debate surrounding reverse sweeps, switch hits and wide-ball calls is likely to continue. As these unconventional batting techniques become increasingly common, the ICC may need to provide clearer guidance to ensure greater consistency in how such deliveries are judged.
