In the ongoing 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) the umpiring standard has been dropped down by significant percentage. During the first qualifier of IPL 2018, another such horrible decision from the on-field umpires came and this time, it is not an Indian umpire, but the veteran ICC’ elite panel umpire Marais Erasmus. On the fifth delivery of the sixth over, the ball slipped out of Deepak Chahar’s hand. The ball almost went over Shakib Al Hasan’s head but instead of signaling it as a no-ball, Erasmus signaled it as a dead ball.

Shakib was very frustrated with the decision as it did not fall midway on the pitch but went over his head and to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. After Shakib’s objection, Erasmus had a talk with the leg umpire Chettithody Shamsuddin and chose to stay with his original decision.

Here’s the video of the unofficial no-ball —

https://twitter.com/videos_shots/status/999214893935947776

Here’s how Twitterati bashed poor umpiring yet again —

Are you kidding me? How is that not a no ball? Dead ball – really?? Bowler got away! Poor umpiring! #SRHvCSK #CSKvsSRH @IPL #VIVOIPL2018

— mafy karim (@karim_mafy) May 22, 2018

umpiring standards in ipl are inversely proportional to petrol prices.

— Kuptaan 🇮🇳 (@Kuptaan) May 22, 2018

Umpiring at its worst best!!!!!

That was ball slipped from Chahar's hands. It was a mistake of bowler, punishment was given to batting team as it was Dead (Dot) Ball and not a No Ball.#SRHvCSK #Playoffs #IPL

— Khilesh (@CA_Khilesh) May 22, 2018

https://twitter.com/InherentArbiter/status/998927853474537472

Umpiring has been bad this IPL. We'll need a DRS for everything now.

— darshan karkera (@ElonMuskurahat) May 22, 2018

@IPL umpiring standards pic.twitter.com/bYCDOSKjOB

— Chetakanodu (@Srikanth050593) May 22, 2018

In IPL 2018, the fans have witnessed a plethora of umpiring blunders, which can’t go unnoticed. But a decision like that in playoffs can prove to be game-changing. SRH were not only robbed of a no-ball but a free hit as well. A free hit in that situation could have turned the momentum in SRH’s side after the top order collapsed.

After getting under pressure, Shakib got out for just 12 runs off 8 balls as he played a desperate pull shot off Dwayne Bravo in an attempt to increase the scoring rate.

WATCH – Shakib Al Hasan takes revenge on Aaron Finch

On Tuesday night, CSK captain MS Dhoni decided to field first after winning the toss. With the help of late knock from Carlos Brathwaite (43* runs off 29 balls), struggling SRH managed to put 139/7 on the board at the end of 20 overs.

In reply, CSK suffered a major batting collapse but the opener Faf du Plessis’ responsible knock helped them to snatch a dramatic victory as they chased down that target in 19.1 overs after losing 8 wickets.