Manipur's Lamabam Ajay Singh was penalized for "hitting the ball twice" during his team's Ranji Trophy encounter against Meghalaya on Tuesday.

The all-rounder defended a delivery from left-arm spinner Aryan Bora, only to have the ball drift back towards the stumps, where he intercepted it with his bat. As per the ESPNCricinfo report, as the ball was heading towards the stumps, the batter hit it the second time, which is within the law, but no one, including the batter, protested the umpire's decision.

Had Lamabam or someone from the Manipur team administration appealed against the verdict, the batter could've been adjudged not out. However, he decided to walk off the field after Meghalaya players appealed.

"He could've padded it away, but he chose to stop it with his bat and was immediately given out 'hit the ball twice' by umpire Dharmesh Bhardwaj. The batter walked off the moment Meghalaya appealed,” a venue official told ESPNCricinfo.

Clause 34.1.1 of the MCC Laws states that a striker is out 'hit the ball twice' if, while the ball is in play, it makes contact with any part of their body or bat, and the striker then willfully strikes it a second time with the bat or with any part of the body (other than a hand not holding the bat), before a fielder touches the ball—except when the second strike is solely to protect their wicket.

Now, former India spinner R Ashwin has decided to share his two cents on the incident. Ashwin is known for having an intricate knowledge of cricketing laws and revealed that he too was given out for 'hitting the ball twice' during a gully cricket match.

He, however, pointed out that such dismissals are only legal in gully cricket, and there is no such rule stating that the batter should be given out for protecting his stumps.

"Today I got out in gully cricket for the rarest crime ever—hitting the ball twice. First shot: defended. Second shot: panic swipe to save my stumps. Third thing: the entire lane shouting "OUTTT!" louder than a World Cup final. Lamabam Singh was given out for hitting the ball twice in a Ranji Trophy game. It's out only in gully cricket and not according to the actual laws of the game," Ashwin posted on X.