By Bipin Dani
During the recent Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) home game against Mumbai Indians (MI), MI’s 26-year-old opening batter Ishan Kishan found himself at the center of a curious dismissal that left viewers and commentators puzzled.
Kishan, facing a delivery from Deepak Chahar, attempted to glance a length ball swinging down the leg side. Although there appeared to be no clear contact with the bat, Kishan began walking off the field—even though there was no appeal from the MI players after wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton collected the ball. Umpire Vinod Seshan initially seemed prepared to signal a wide but hesitated and ultimately signaled Kishan out upon noticing the batter walking voluntarily.
In an admirable show of sportsmanship, MI captain Hardik Pandya approached Kishan and gently patted him on the helmet, acknowledging his decision to walk off without waiting for the umpire’s call. However, controversy erupted when Ultra Edge replays later revealed no spike, suggesting that the ball had not edged the bat.
Speaking exclusively to this reporter after the match, Kishan’s father, Pranay Kishan, commented on the situation:
“I am not sure whether Ishan regretted leaving early, but he showed sportsman spirit by leaving the wicket without waiting for the umpire’s decision. Yes, Hardik Pandya patted him for the decision.”
When asked whether MI captain Hardik Pandya should have recalled Ishan, his father offered a pragmatic view:
“The game of T20 cricket is very competitive, and I see no problem if the opposing captain didn’t reverse the call. We are more disappointed with the team’s loss rather than the situation when my son got out.”
Pranay Kishan also revealed that he had not yet spoken to his son after the match:
“No, I have not spoken to Ishan after the match. Generally, we talk after every match, but he may be tense, and therefore may not have called us.”
