"Really Hard When...": MI Coach's Remarks On WPL Run-Out Controversy Adds Fuel To Fire

In a thrilling encounter that ended in a last-ball, two-wicket loss for Mumbai Indians against Delhi Capitals, the match was marred by some controversial run-out decisions that sparked debates over the interpretation of the LED stump rules. Mumbai Indians' head coach, Charlotte Edwards, who is a two-time World Cup-winning England captain, expressed her frustration after the game, admitting how tough it was to understand the calls that affected the match's outcome.

The controversial decisions stemmed from three DC batters — Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, and Shikha Pandey — who were all deemed not out despite the LED stumps lighting up as the ball made initial contact with the wickets. The third umpire, Gayathri Venugopalan, reviewed the footage and based the final decisions on frames showing the bails fully dislodged, rather than when the LED lights first flashed, which is the key indication in WPL 2025 rules.

Edwards reflected on the difficult nature of such decisions, especially when multiple reviews are involved, and admitted that it's "really hard" to move on after such calls. However, she noted that they must focus on the next game and look forward to playing again soon.

Even former India captain Mithali Raj, while commentating, pointed out that the decisions in favor of DC, especially for Arundhati and Radha, seemed questionable. MI's skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, though visibly frustrated, refrained from protesting, while former RCB director Mike Hesson also voiced his disbelief, emphasizing that the zinger bails should have been considered as the defining moment for the run-outs.

While the umpire's calls were under scrutiny, the game itself was intense. MI posted 164 on the scoreboard, thanks to a solid partnership between Nat Sciver-Brunt (who remained unbeaten on 80) and Harmanpreet Kaur (42). However, the inability to capitalize on the momentum in the latter stages of the innings hurt MI's chances, with Edwards acknowledging that a total of around 180 would have been more competitive.

Edwards also highlighted the significant run-out of Amelia Kerr, which she described as a crucial turning point. As the game reached its nail-biting conclusion, Shafali Verma played a brilliant knock for DC, guiding them to a dramatic last-ball victory.

Veteran Shikha Pandey, who played a key role in dismissing MI’s openers, praised the collective effort of the DC team. She also pointed out that DC wasn’t at full strength, with several star players unavailable, yet they managed to defeat MI, who were playing with a full-strength squad.

As Edwards and MI look to regroup and sharpen their game, their focus will now shift to their next match against Gujarat, as they aim to bounce back from this heart-breaking defeat.