Tamil Nadu cricketer Baba Aparajith found himself in a tense situation during a recent match in the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association Division 1 league. Playing for the young Stars Cricket Club against Jolly Rovers CC, Aparajith, a right-handed batter, entered the crease when his team was at 32-2, chasing a target of 164 runs. At the time of the incident, he had scored 32 runs.
The controversy unfolded when Aparajith was given out by the on-field umpire in response to an appeal by the opposing captain, B Hari Nishanth. The dismissal was the result of a delivery that sharply turned, leading to confusion as it appeared that the ball had struck Aparajith’s leg. Adding to the confusion, a fielder at the short leg position also claimed to have caught the ball.
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The 29-year-old cricketer was visibly frustrated by the umpire’s decision and expressed his discontent in a dramatic manner. Instead of leaving the field as expected, he gestured animatedly towards the umpire, indicating his disagreement. This prompted a discussion between Aparajith and the umpires.
Although there was no provision for the Decision Review System (DRS) in this match, replays were reviewed to make a conclusive decision. Initially headed towards the pavilion after the on-field decision stood, Aparajith then turned back to confront one of the players from the opposing team.
The discussion between Aparajith and the opposition player escalated, leading the umpires to step in and mediate. Eventually, after the heated exchange, Aparajith finally left the field and made his way back to the pavilion. The incident highlighted the intensity and emotions that can run high in cricket matches, even without the presence of technologies like DRS.
Watch Baba Aparajith’s Heated Exchange with Umpires Video
'The Umpire's decision is final’
Baba Aparajith: Hold my bat! pic.twitter.com/A4Cd6sOV8g— FanCode (@FanCode) August 9, 2023