In a dramatic turn of events during the Delhi Capitals (DC) vs Rajasthan Royals (RR) match at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday, former New Zealand cricketer and commentator Simon Doull publicly apologized for wrongly criticizing an umpire’s no-ball call on Mitchell Starc during the Super Over. This incident has sparked discussions regarding the backfoot no-ball rule and highlighted the importance of understanding cricket’s laws.
The Incident: A Mistake on Air
During the Super Over of RR’s innings, Mitchell Starc was asked to wait before bowling the fourth ball. While waiting, the third umpire, Rohan Pandit, reviewed Starc’s previous delivery to check its legality. Moments later, the siren went off, and the on-field umpire signalled a no-ball. Initially, Doull was critical of the decision, arguing that Starc’s backfoot was not over the return crease, as per his understanding of the rules.
“I don’t think it’s a no-ball. You’re allowed to touch the line. It’s only when your foot cuts the line that it can be called a no-ball,” Doull remarked in the commentary box. However, he later realized that the decision was correct and apologized to the third umpire and the viewers.
The Law Behind the No-Ball Call
As the replays suggested, it wasn’t a front-foot no-ball but rather a backfoot error by Starc. According to Article 21.5.1 of the MCC Laws, “For a delivery to be fair in respect of the feet, the bowler’s backfoot must land within and not touching the return crease.” In Starc’s case, his backfoot touched the return crease, leading to the correct no-ball call. Doull admitted his mistake after being reminded of the specific rule regarding backfoot no-balls.
No-Ball Impact on the Game
Despite the no-ball call, the incident didn’t harm DC’s chances. RR, after the no-ball, managed just 11 runs in their Super Over. DC’s KL Rahul and Tristian Stubbs responded aggressively, smashing two sixes off Sandeep Sharma’s bowling, securing a thrilling victory for DC. The win propelled DC back to the top of the IPL 2025 standings with five victories and just one defeat in six matches.
What Happened After the Super Over?
Starc, who had previously limited RR to 188/4, bowled another disciplined over in the regular match. His effort in helping RR post a challenging total ultimately went in vain as DC, led by Axar Patel, emerged victorious. Rajasthan, on the other hand, continued to struggle, suffering their fifth defeat in seven matches.
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