Among the more unusual moments from Saturday’s match was KKR opener Sunil Narine accidentally hitting the stumps after a delivery during his knock of 44 off 26 deliveries. RCB tried to appeal for ‘Hit Wicket’ but the umpires were unmoved. Here’s why.
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The opening day of the
2025 Indian Premier League witnessed a glittering opening ceremony at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens that was followed by a dominant performance by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The Ajinkya Rahane-led Knight Riders were the favourites heading into Saturday’s season opener given they are the defending champions and also had the home advantage for the game.
Virat Kohli (59 not out) slammed an unbeaten half-century and formed vital partnerships with Phil Salt (56) and captain Rajat Patidar (34) to help RCB chase the 175-run target down with seven wickets and nearly four overs to spare. This was after Krunal Pandya’s 2/39 and Josh Hazlewood’s 2/22 helped the Royal Challengers restrict the Knight Riders to 174/8 after opting to field.
Among the more unusual moments from Saturday’s match was KKR opener Sunil Narine accidentally hitting the stumps after a delivery during his knock of 44 off 26 deliveries. And despite his bat coming in contact with the stumps and dislodging the bails that was followed by a faint appeal from RCB, the West Indian spin-bowling all-rounder was not adjudged ‘Hit Wicket’.
Why Sunil Narine was not dismissed ‘Hit Wicket’ despite hitting the stumps with his bat
The incident took place during the eighth over of KKR’s innings. Rasikh Dar Salam bowled a steep delivery that was called a wide, but it didn’t take long for the RCB fielders to notice that the stumps at the striker’s end had been broken. The umpires, however, were not interested in RCB’s appeal for a hit wicket.
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As per MCC Law 35.2, the striker is not out despite his bat coming into contact with the stumps if “it occurs after the striker has completed any action in receiving the delivery, other than those specified in 35.1.1.2 to 35.1.1.4”. Following are the exceptions in Law 35.2 that pertains to the ‘Hit Wicket’ dismissal:
35.1.1.2: In setting off for the first run immediately after playing or playing at the ball.
35.1.1.3: If no attempt is made to play the ball, in setting off for the first run, providing that in the opinion of the umpire this is immediately after the striker has had the opportunity of playing the ball.
35.1.1.4: In lawfully making a second or further stroke for the purpose of guarding his/her wicket within the provisions of Law 34.3 (Ball lawfully struck more than once).
Since Narine did not make an attempt at setting off for a run, the ball was deemed dead once it landed in the wicket-keeper’s gloves, meaning his action of hitting the stumps that would normally lead to his dismissal was not considered.