• MI captain Rohit Sharma’s dismissal against RCB erupted a lot of buzz on social media.

  • The likes of Mohammed Kaif, Harbhajan Singh expressed their disappointment over third umpire’s decision.

IPL 2023: Rohit Sharma’s LBW dismissal triggers massive controversy during MI-RCB showdown
Rohit Sharma's dismissal triggers controversy in IPL 2023 (Screengrab: IPLT20)

Rohit Sharma‘s ongoing form is a major cause of concern for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). The MI skipper hasn’t found his lost mojo and is constantly struggling to score runs in the 16th season of the cash-rich league.

In his side’s recent match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Rohit endured another failure and could only manage to score 7 runs before falling victim to Wanindu Hasaranga. However, his dismissal in the Tuesday night fixture erupted a major controversy with fans as well as former cricketers putting questions on the third umpire’s decision.

It all happened during the fifth over of MI’s chase, when Hasaranga gave double blows to the hosts as he got rid of both openers Ishan Kishan and Rohit. While Kishan ended up giving a catch to Anuj Rawat for a quickfire 21-ball 42, Rohit was dismissed for a leg before wicket (LBW).

The MI skipper stepped forward to play the ball through the leg side but he missed it and the white leather struck his pad. Hasaranga and other RCB players immediately went for a huge appeal but the on-field umpire didn’t look convinced. The touring party then went upstairs and the third umpire gave the decision in the favour of RCB, leaving Rohit absolutely stunned.

The decision of the third umpire didn’t go down well with the fans either as they flooded social media with their responses. Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif raised questions on the legitimacy of Rohit’s dismissal as the cricketer was already so far down the track when the ball struck his pad.

Kaif took to his official Twitter handle and wrote: “Hello DRS, yeh thoda jyada nahi ho gaya? How can this be lbw? (Hello DRS. Isn’t it too much?).”

Iceland Cricket, who are known for their witty remarks on the micro-blogging site, also reacted to Rohit’s dismissal.

“We cannot afford the technology yet, but our bowlers have asked us to purchase the Wankhede DRS used to give Rohit Sharma out lbw today,” tweeted Iceland Cricket.

Former India pacer Munaf Patel wrote: “Lagta he ab DRS b DRS hona chahye, Unlucky #RohitSharma Kya bolti public, ye Out he ya nai ?? #MIvRCB #IPL2023.”

Indian spin legend Harbhajan Singh, who has played for MI in IPL, reckoned that Rohit was unlucky as the MI skipper was clearly not out

“They need to pay attention to DRS as it missed it completely. Rohit was far ahead and I think he was not out. This decision was absolutely wrong. Hawkeye showed the ball spun sharply but the track wasn’t offering any spin at all,” said Harbhajan on his YouTube channel.

Here is how fans reacted:

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About the Author:
AKSHAT GAUR
Akshat is the Sr. Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Akshat has honed his skills over 6 years, working with various media outlets, publications, and organizations to deliver high-quality content that informs, educates, and entertains audiences. He is just another cricket fan who’s grown up watching the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Cricket runs in his veins. Cover drive is his favorite sight, and a ball meeting the middle of the bat is his favorite sound. You can write to him at akshat.gaur@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter, Facebook & Linkedin.