Rajasthan Royals batsman Riyan Parag was correctly adjudged not out “in the wrong way”, in the words of on-air commentator Simon Doull, in an unusual incident in his side’s IPL clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The incident occured in the 15th over of Rajasthan Royals’ chase. Parag was the non-striker when Rahul Tewatia dragged a delivery from T Natarajan straight back down the ground, with the bowler diving in his follow through while attempting to stop the shot. The ball appeared to have touched a part of Natarajan’s hand before making it’s way to the non-striker’s stumps, and the bowler went up in appeal, convinced that he had his man.

After carefully assessing the slow-mo replays for a possible contact, Nitin Menon, the third umpire, declared that the evidence of Natarajan touching the ball was  “not conclusive” on-air.

Simon Doull, the commentator during the incident, explained how he felt there was evidence that the Natarajan had touched the ball, but that the correct decision had been reached in any case. “Well… I think, the right decision has been made but we might have got to it in the wrong way. I think Parag is safe [in his ground].”

Rahul Tewatia:
First 1⃣4⃣ balls: 9 runs
Next 1⃣4⃣ balls: 36 runs

Riyan Parag:
First 1⃣3⃣ balls: 11 runs
Next 1⃣3⃣ balls: 31 runs

What a chase!#IPL2020 #SRHvRR pic.twitter.com/ZEF452O2nC

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) October 11, 2020

“The umpire thinks the ball might not have been touched – he couldn’t see conclusive evidence that the ball was touched – but there was a clear change of angle.”

Even as the appeal was dismissed by the TV umpire, replays later showed that Parag, who was backing up, had managed to find his way back into the crease anyway.

“The reason why I say correct decision has been made is because Riyan Parag was safe anyway,” Doull said, as replays showed up on the screen. Murali Kartik, his co-commentator, agreed that there seemed to have been a contact between the ball and Natarajan’s outstretched hand. “In real time there was an obvious deflection and in slo-mo as well,” he said.

Parag, who was on 11 off 13 at that time, added 31 more off his last 13 deliveries, combining with Rahul Tewatia to pull off an incredible heist.