Kings XI Punjab have appealed against on-field umpire Nitin
Menon’s controversial ‘short run’ call at a crunch moment of their IPL game against
Delhi Capitals, which boiled down to the Super Over, as former players, experts and fans took to social media to express their take on the incident.

The dodgy decision came in the second last over of Punjab’s run-chase when in the third ball of Rabada’s over, a wide full-toss outside off, was sliced away towards the extra cover region by Mayank Agarwal for a quick couple.

But Menon deemed it as a single, citing the reason that the first run was a short one. However, video footage has shown otherwise.

Now, it has evoked questions if the match should have gone into a Super Over in the first place.

The uproar primarily started when former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag tweeted, “I don’t agree with the man of the match choice. The umpire who gave this short run should have been man of the match. Short Run nahin tha. And that was the difference.” 

Following his post, Preity Zinta, co-owner of Kings XI Punjab, retweeted it with the caption, “I travelled enthusiastically during a pandemic, did 6 days of Quarantine & 5covid tests with a smile but that one Short Run hit me hard. What’s the point of technology if it cannot be used? It’s time BCCI  introduces new rules. This cannot happen every year.”  

The Indian actor was not the only one to seek more technological intervention for the sake of fair results.

Cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra echoed similar thoughts as he tweeted, “Technology must take over these cases.”

Former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris labelled it as a terrible decision, however, he blamed KXIP for squandering their chances in the first place.

“Terrible ‘one short’
decision in tonight’s IPL game. However, if you need 1 run off the last 2 balls
and don’t win. You only have yourself to blame,” he tweeted.

Taking a stand for the umpire, former Australian chinaman Brad Hogg, explaining the situation, said, “Umpire is not square of the wicket because the side on camera needs a clear view at all times. From his angle, it would look to be a short run. Overriding the decision should have been available. Let’s not be too hard on the umpire, but rather the procedure.”

However, Delhi Capitals assistant coach Mohammad Kaif tagged the controversial decision as “chhoti chhoti baatein” (minor incidents) and congratulated his team for snatching victory “from the jaws of defeat!”

Fans too took to social media to express their views on the incident. 

Now, KXIP players, owners and their fans will be hoping to see some action taken by the BCCI, however, it looks unlikely that the appeal will yield any result as of now.