IPL 2022 | 'Consistency is the most important thing in terms of calling wides' - Kumar Sangakkara

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 has been the talk of the town, with the umpires marking their presence in the controversy column due to their decisions, based on their instinct, which has a direct effect on the outcome of the match.

The no-ball controversy involving the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) earlier this season sparked a heavy debate. In the latest outing between the Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Wankhede Stadium, umpire Nitin Pandit called multiple wides, which was undoubtedly a matter of debate.

It all transpired in the 19th over of the game, with Prasidh Krishna as the bowler and KKR needing 18 off 12 balls. KKR batter Rinku Singh shuffled across the off stump in the fourth ball of the over but failed to make contact. However, it was signalled wide by the umpire.

Royals captain Sanju Samson was furious at the decision and protested by taking the DRS, knowing that Singh’s bat was nowhere near the ball. In the sixth ball of the over, the umpire made another lousy call to adjudge it as wide again, despite Nitish Rana reaching the tramline and failing to connect with the bat.

The duo helped KKR secure a victory by seven wickets and get a much-needed win after five losses on the trot. The head coach of Royals, Kumar Sangakkara, opined on the wides called by the umpires at a post-match press conference.

He reckoned that when the batter has already started his movement before the ball is delivered, the wide line gets extended, and the rules can’t be changed.

“Consistency is the most important thing in terms of calling wides. There are some new rules where you can’t create a wide but destroy a wide by moving around the crease, and before the delivery is made, any movement you make becomes a starting point for the wide line to start moving,” Sangakkara said in the post-match press conference.

The former Sri Lanka batter further thinks that the Royals have not played good enough cricket in the last two games.

“It’s what it is at the end of the day, but at the same time, we’ve got to realize that we didn’t play good enough cricket in the last two games,” he added.

Royals have six wins in 10 league games and are at the third position in the table. They will be up against Punjab Kings at Wankhede Stadium in their next fixture on May 7.