Should Dinesh Karthik have been out obstructing the field for changing his line of running?
There was debate over whether Dinesh Karthik should have been given out for obstructing the field when it seemed he changed his line of running in today’s (May 6) IPL 2023 match between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
After trying to take a risky single, RCB’s Karthik turned and ran back to the non-striker’s end, but in doing so, it appeared to many that he changed the angle of his run to block the view of the stumps from the bowler who had the ball in his hand.
According to the laws, a player can be dismissed for obstructing the field if they are deemed to have wilfully attempted to distract or obstruct the fielding side with either word or action.
MCC’s Law 37.1.1 on Obstructing the Field states that: “Either batter is out Obstructing the field if, except in the circumstances of 37.2, and while the ball is in play, he/she wilfully attempts to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action.”
Clips from the match showed that Karthik appeared to change his path as he tried to run back.
Dinesh Karthik for running in a straight line on the wicket & blocks the view of the stumps, DC Skipper Warner is not happy
📷: Jio Cinema#DCvRCB #RCBvDC #RCB #DC #IPL2023 #TATAIPL2023 #Cricket #DineshKarthik #DelhiCapitals #RoyalChallengersBangalore #T20Cricket #DavidWarner pic.twitter.com/Qe4AHYPUdw
— SportsTiger (@The_SportsTiger) May 6, 2023
Former RCB batter Shreevats Goswami on Twitter said: “That was definitely obstructing the field by Karthik wasn’t it? He changed the line of his run clearly.”
Former Australian batter Tom Moody simply tweeted: “Sorry DK, that was clearly obstructing the field.”
Don’t know how Dinesh Karthik felt he could steal a run there.
But having said that, he should been given out for obstructing the field.
Silly to think why the umpires didn’t go upstairs when they seem to be going upstairs even for some obvious ones.
Bad umpiring again. pic.twitter.com/2Wb6UBTguA
— Rahul Sharma (@CricFnatic) May 6, 2023
DC skipper David Warner appeared furious with the incident making his feelings known to both the player and the umpires on the field. Some even questioned why Warner did not appeal for the same.
However, the Australian had the last laugh as Karthik was dismissed for 11 runs with Warner taking the catch from Khaleel Ahmed’s delivery.
To bet on the IPL with our Match Centre partners bet365, head here.
