Controversy erupted in IPL 2026 on Sunday (April 26) after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi was given out ‘obstructing the field’ against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Stadium.
On the last ball of the fifth over, Angkrish pushed a ball to mid-on and tried to take a single. His partner, Cameron Green, denied the call and sent him back.
Angkrish was initially on the left side of the pitch (from a viewer’s angle), took a look at the fielder, and, while turning, bent his run around to the other side. Mohammed Shami‘s throw was aimed at the stumps at the striker’s end and hit Raghuvnashi’s back.
Initially, the umpires seemed to have cleared it. But LSG captain Rishabh Pant then walked over to the on-field umpires and
apparently suggested that Raghuvanshi had deliberately changed his direction to prevent the ball from hitting the stumps. It went to the third umpire Rohan Pandit, who felt that Raghuvanshi was ‘looking at the ball’ and changed his direction, feeling it was enough ground to give him out.
KKR were naturally unhappy. Angkrish fumed and threw his bat and helmet while walking back, while head coach Abhishek Nayar, who has personally mentored the young batter, was involved in a long chat with the fourth official outside the field of play.
What is obstructing the field in IPL?
Obstructing the field applies to a lot of conditions that involve the batter preventing their dismissal by disturbing the ball or the fielders. In terms of running between the wickets, the law is clear (37.1.4):
“For the avoidance of doubt, if an umpire feels that a batter, in running between the wickets, has significantly changed his direction without probable cause and thereby obstructed a fielder’s attempt to effect a run out, the batter should, on appeal, be given out, obstructing the field. It shall not be relevant whether a run out would have occurred or not.”
It was in the third umpire’s jurisdiction to see whether Angkrish fulfilled all these conditions. The on-air commentators felt that Angkrish’s change of direction was not deliberate.
All 4 batters to have been given out for obstructing the field in the IPL
| Batter | Team | Opponent | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yusuf Pathan | Kolkata Knight Riders | Pune Warriors India | May 15, 2013 |
| Amit Mishra | Delhi Capitals | Sunrisers Hyderabad | May 8, 2019 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Chennai Super Kings | Rajasthan Royals | May 12, 2024 |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | Kolkata Knight Riders | Lucknow Super Giants | April 26, 2026 |
