Cricket umpires have never faced as much scrutiny as they do today, with every decision being analyzed in real time. This heightened pressure can lead to some unusual moments on the field. One such instance involved umpire Nitin Menon during the IPL 2024 match in Hyderabad on Sunday, where he made a notable blunder amidst the intense action.
Sunrisers Hyderabad, chasing a daunting target of 215 set by Punjab Kings, faced an early setback when Arshdeep Singh bowled out Travis Head for a golden duck. Despite this, Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi managed to revive their team’s hopes with an impressive 72-run partnership.
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Amidst this thrilling contest, an incident involving umpire Nitin Menon provided a moment of unexpected comedy. During the second ball of the fourth over, Rishi Dhawan bowled a delivery that went down the leg side, missing both the batsman Tripathi and the wicketkeeper, and racing to the boundary.
Umpire Menon initially signalled four wides. This decision puzzled the bowler, who looked to his captain Jitesh Sharma. Sharma opted to review the decision. Before any review process could begin, Menon changed his call to leg-byes, seemingly resolving the issue.
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As Dhawan began his run-up for the next delivery, Menon abruptly halted the proceedings, indicating that the review was indeed under way. This unexpected pause led to confusion among players and spectators alike. Eventually, the review confirmed Menon’s corrected call of leg-byes, and play resumed.
— Head Tarvis (@HTarvis93010) May 19, 2024
The incident quickly became a talking point on social media, with fans and commentators expressing their amusement and bewilderment. The Twitterati found the episode particularly entertaining, showcasing the lighter side of cricket amid the high-stakes IPL competition. This moment highlighted not only the immense pressure umpires face but also the unpredictable and often humorous nature of the sport.
