IPL 2026: Anil Chaudhary disagrees with obstruction call, terms it an ‘Opinion Decision’

Indian cricket umpire Anil Chaudhary has shared his verdict on the controversial obstruction of the field decision during the IPL 2026 clash between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 28. The match, held in Lucknow, ended in a thrilling Super Over victory for KKR.

The incident occurred on the final ball of the fifth over, bowled by Prince Yadav. KKR batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi was adjudged out for obstruction of the field after the on-field umpires felt he had changed his running direction, potentially interfering with the play. The decision was referred to the third umpire, who upheld the dismissal. However, Chaudhary expressed a different opinion and stated that, in his view, the batter should have been given not out, as there did not appear to be any deliberate intent to obstruct the field.

“All the issues related to Raghuvanshi’s obstructing the field are under discussion. There are three or four very important things. Number one: change in direction. A batsman isn’t given out just for a change in direction. A willful change in direction, it must be deliberate. Because there are many such cases where batsmen run straight with absolutely no change in direction, yet they still cause an obstruction,” said Chaudhary on Instagram.

“You have to look at the intent, you have to look at the impact, and you have to see whether it is deliberate or not. The batsman ran, stopped, and then turned; he went in the other direction with that same momentum, and a batsman has very little time. It is not possible for a batsman to run in a perfectly drawn straight line, and when a batsman plays straight, he often watches the ball,” he added.

Chaudhary further added that while the replays could suggest a case of obstruction, such decisions ultimately come down to the umpire’s interpretation and remain a matter of opinion. Raghuvanshi, who was dismissed for just nine runs, appeared visibly upset with the call. Despite the controversy, KKR managed to hold their nerve and secure a thrilling win. The three-time champions registered their second victory of the tournament and currently sit eighth in the points table with five points.

“When he dived into the crease to make his ground, he was not looking at the ball. I feel that it is always beneficial to look at ‘obstructing the field’ in real-time. If you watch it in a replay, you might feel that it is [obstruction], but if you watch it in real-time, you can form a slightly better opinion. It is an opinion call. I personally felt ‘not out’ was a better call. This is Law 37,” said Chaudhary.

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