Faf du Plessis was dismissed in unfortunate circumstances at the non-striker’s end, after a deflection off bowler Mitchell Santner crashed onto the stumps during the RCB v CSK IPL 2024 match in Bengaluru.

In an innings that was interrupted by rain, du Plessis was dismissed for a 39-ball 54 off the last ball of the 13th over. Rajat Patidar struck the delivery back towards Santner, who extended his arm out to stop it. The ball went on to hit the stumps, but there wasn’t much enthusiasm in the Chennai Super Kings fielders’ appeal.

The decision went upstairs to Michael Gough, who took his time to go through the replays. To check Santner’s contact, he consulted UltraEdge, confirming that there was indeed a slight deflection on its way to the stumps.

The confusion arose over du Plessis’ bat: going through the replays, Gough was convinced that the batter had not grounded his bat in time, and it was still in the air when the stumps were disturbed. However, in replays shown on TV, it wasn’t quite apparent to some whether the bat was indeed in the air.

When he was eventually ruled out, Faf had an expression of surprise on his face; Patidar, at the other end, raised his hands in protest, as did others in the RCB camp, clearly displeased at the decision. Faf walked back in dejection, a crucial wicket to fall in a game that decides which of the two teams will qualify for the playoffs.

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