The controversial hit wicket dismissal of Sai Sudharsan during the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 match between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru has triggered massive debate on social media.
Former Indian umpire Anil Chaudhary stated that Sai Sudharsan should not have been declared out hit wicket during the match at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.
The incident took place during the third over of Gujarat Titans’ chase. Sai Sudharsan played a shot against Jacob Duffy, after which the bat slipped from his hand and later disturbed the stumps.
The on-field umpires declared the batter out hit wicket. However, Anil Chaudhary explained that under MCC Law 35.2, a batter should not be given out if the stumps are hit after the shot has already been completed.
According to the former umpire, Sai Sudharsan had finished playing the stroke before the bat touched the stumps. He argued that the dismissal should therefore have been ruled not out.
Anil Chaudhary also said that in such situations, the ball becomes dead after the completion of the shot. Since the ball had already crossed the boundary before the stumps were disturbed, he stated that the four runs should have been awarded.
The controversial decision quickly sparked strong reactions online. Many cricket fans questioned the standard of umpiring during such a crucial IPL playoff match.
Some social media users even made allegations that the RCB vs GT playoff game was “fixed” following the disputed dismissal. However, no official evidence has been presented to support such claims.
Several fans are now demanding that the Board of Control for Cricket in India review the incident carefully and take steps to avoid similar controversies in future IPL playoff matches.
