If there was any match that could be called the most thrilling in the history of T20I cricket, it would be the IND vs AFG 3rd T20 International match played in Bangalore. In this match, the Indian team first fell 4 wickets for 22 runs, but after 20 overs, the score was 212 for 4. After that, Afghanistan showed an extremely magical power and equaled that score, then there was a super over, but surprisingly, this super over also ended in a tie.
There was another super over to get the result of the match, in which India won easily, but during this second super over, a controversy arose regarding Rohit Sharma’s batting.
Everyone was surprised to see Rohit Sharma coming out to bat in the second super over because Rohit Sharma returned to the pavilion directly from non-strike on the last ball of the first super over. In such a case, it was believed that he was retired, as the retired hurt player gets injured middle of the game but it was not the case.
Rohit Sharma asked Rinku Singh to come on the crease to take advantage in running. However, that super over was tied, but when Rohit came to bat in the second super over, one of the commentators was surprised and thought to read the rules again as Rohit Sharma could not bat due to rules.
During the Super Over, Aakash Chopra said, “Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh have come to bat in the second Super Over. It seems beyond my understanding because once you get out in some way, you can’t play again in the Super Over. Maybe I’ll have to read the rules again.”
At the same time, in the post-match show on JioCinema, Parthiv Patel said, “Perhaps there has been a mistake from the umpires because Rohit Sharma could not come to bat in the second super over, as he was retired out, not retired hurt.”
However, if we look at the rules of cricket that are made by MCC (which governs the rules of cricket), Rule 25.4.2 states that if a batsman retires due to illness, injury, or any other unavoidable reason, then that batsman is entitled to resume his innings. If it does not happen for some reason, that batsman will be recorded as ‘Retired – Not Out’.
While Rule 25.4.3 states that if a batsman retires for any reason other than 25.4.2, that batsman’s innings can only be resumed with the concurrence of the opposing captain. If for any reason his inning does not resume, the batsman will be recorded as ‘Retired – Out’.
Now the question is, whether the opposition team captain Ibrahim Zadran allowed Rohit Sharma to play in the second super-over.
If the answer is yes, then there is no controversy in it, but if Rohit Sharma did not ask or get permission from the opposition team’s captain in the second super over and he came out to bat, then it is a big mistake of the umpires.
