Sunil Narine was not adjudged hit wicket despite breaking the stumps while opening Kolkata Knight Riders' innings in the IPL 2025 curtain-raiser against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Saturday (March 22). Here’s why.
The incident occurred when Rasikh Salam bowled the fourth delivery of the eighth over of KKR’s innings. The ball was short and out of reach of Narine, who swayed outside the line, prompting the umpire to call it a wide. After RCB wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma collected the ball, Narine’s bat accidentally hit the stumps. There was a faint appeal from the opposition for a hit-wicket, but the umpire remained unmoved.
The decision divided opinions among watchers, with some saying Narine should have been given out hit-wicket. However, according to the first clause of MCC Law 35.2, the striker is not out despite their wicket being put down in any of the ways mentioned in Law 35.1 (related to hit wicket) if "it occurs after the striker has completed any action in receiving the delivery, other than those specified in 35.1.1.2 to 35.1.1.4".
— kuchnahi123@12345678 (@kuchnahi1269083) March 22, 2025
The exceptions related to Law 35.2 are mentioned below:
35.1.1.2: In setting off for the first run immediately after playing or playing at the ball.
35.1.1.3: If no attempt is made to play the ball, in setting off for the first run, providing that in the opinion of the umpire this is immediately after the striker has had the opportunity of playing the ball.
35.1.1.4: In lawfully making a second or further stroke for the purpose of guarding his/her wicket within the provisions of Law 34.3 (Ball lawfully struck more than once).
Here, Narine's stumps were broken after he had "completed any action in receiving the delivery," which satisfies the first caveat in Law 35.2 for his not-out decision. Narine neither attempted a run nor made any contact with the ball, which nullifies the exceptions mentioned in Law 35.1.1.2 to 35.1.1.4.
After a slow start, Narine accelerated, finishing with a 26-ball 44, including five fours and three sixes. The KKR captain also contributed significantly, scoring 56 off 31 balls. However, RCB managed to pull things back, restricting the defending champions to 174-8. Much of the credit for this should go to Krunal Pandya, who took 3-29.
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