Ravindra Jadeja was asked to remove tape from his bowling hand by umpire Richard Illingworth during the semi-final of the 2025 Champions Trophy between India and Australia.
The request was made to Jadeja in the 19th over of Australia's innings when the batting side were 96-2. Jadeja was in his third over of the game and was bowling with tape around his left wrist which also covered part of his hand in between his thumb and forefinger. Umpire Illingworth stopped Jadeja as he was running into bowl to ask him about the tape.
As Illingworth was speaking to Jadeja, Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma also joined the conversation, which resulted in the left-armer removing the tape before continuing his over.
Umpire told Ravindra Jadeja to remove the tape from his bowling hands. pic.twitter.com/Q8wQTeDygQ
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 4, 2025
Later in the over, Jadeja put in a diving stop off his own bowling to Steve Smith, which saved a single, and looked to hurt his hand in the process. Later in the innings, possibly as a result of Jadeja seemingly carrying an injury to his bowling hand, Illingworth allowed him to put the tape back on.
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1st Semi-Final, India vs Australia
What does the law say?
The playing conditions for the 2025 Champions Trophy state under article 28.1 in regard to all fielders other than the wicketkeeper: "Protection for the hand or fingers may be worn only with consent of the umpires."
Jadeja went on to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne before the halfway point of the innings, trapping him lbw with a quicker delivery. He also dismissed the dangerous Josh Inglis shortly afterwards, leaving Australia 144-4 at the end of the 27th over, with Smith not out on a half-century.
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