The 34th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) was marred by a controversy over on-field umpires' decision to not give a no-ball for a waist high full-toss in the last over of the match.
Chasing 223 to win, DC needed 36 runs off the last over. Rovman Powell smoked Obed McCoy’s first three deliveries for sixes to give his side a real chance of victory. However, a controversy erupted on the third delivery as the Delhi players and support staff members felt it was a waist high no-ball and protested for it.
DC skipper Rishabh Pant gestured his batters back to leave the pitch and also sent assistant coach Pravin Amre to have a word with the on-field umpires.
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Amidst the drama, the play had come to a halt and when it resumed, McCoy bowled brilliantly, conceding just two runs along with the wicket of Powell to seal the match for RR by 15 runs.
Three days after the incident, Rovman Powell said he was hoping that the controversial third delivery to be called a no-ball for height as he felt confident to hit six sixes in a row.
The West Indian, however, has moved on from that game and focusing on upcoming fixtures.
“It is something we have to put behind us very fast. We have a lot of games coming up, and we have no time to dwell in the past,” Powell was quoted as saying in a media release.
“You know, we have to always look to the future because some important games are coming up. Important games for us to win to qualify for the next round of the competition. We have no time to sit and think about what happened in the past,” he further said.
Just like DC’s assistant coach Shane Watson, Powell also believes that the umpire’s decision is final.
“To be honest, I was pretty confident (at hitting six sixes in an over). After I got the first two, I was like what can happen from here, and then I got the next one. I was just hoping that it was a no-ball, but the umpire’s decision is final, and we as cricketers take that and move on.”
In the six innings this season, Powell has scores of 0, 20, 3, 8, 0 and 36.
Speaking about his current form, he said, “It felt good. I’ve been searching for that for the last few games, and it’s finally good to see a few come out in the middle. It’s just for me to take the confidence from that game leading up to the rest of the matches, and just transfer it to the next phase of the competition.”
Delhi Capitals, currently occupying the seventh spot on the points table, will take on Kolkata Knight Riders in their next match at the Wankhede Stadium on April 28.
(With PTI inputs)
