WPL 2025: An LED-bail malfunction during DC-W vs. MI-W leads to a modification in run-out regulations

Three controversial rulings were made in the closing seconds of the Delhi Capitals (DC-W) vs. Mumbai Indians Women (MI-W) match in the WPL 2025 Women’s Premier League. Gayathri Venugopalan, the third umpire for the match, gave the Capitals all the decisions, apparently ignoring the LED stumps’ illumination as the signal that the wicket was broken.

According to Mithali Raj, a former Indian captain, MI-W should have won two of the three determinations. Intriguingly, she also included the “bat bumping” aspect as the first touch idea. This occurs when a hitter dives and the bat lands inside the crease, but the bat absorbs the energy of the bump and usually stays in the air.

“With the batter’s bat on the line, [Shikha] Pandey was declared not-out. Due to the need of diving full stretch, if your bat first strikes the ground [within the crease] and then [bounces up], it is not out. With Radha Yadav, however, we can see the bat’s blade rising. In the crease [when the LED stumps light up], it is not in contact with any part of the ground. Thus, she is no longer there. In the crease, the bat was never. In his post-game commentary for JioHotstar, Mithali said, “That is pretty much out.”

What are the rules for WPL 2025 playing conditions?

In the 18th and 19th overs of the run-chase, the fourth and fifth deliveries, respectively, were the sites of the two occurrences Mithali mentioned. Pandey was thought to have died after taking a straight hit at the striker’s end. The TV umpire, however, declared Pandey not-out following a few close-up shots. Pandey had run a bye after bouncing off the stumps and was at the non-striker’s end. When the stumps lighted up an over later, the bat’s face appeared to be in the air, but Radha was declared not out.

ESPNcricinfo understands that the WPL’s bails’ tendency to glow at the first sign of a disturbance—even before both spigots appear to have fully detached from the stumps’ groove—is the cause for the rule modification. This implies that coming forward, the WPL 2025 will not enforce the playing conditions listed in Appendix D of the competition.

“Where LED wickets are used, the moment at which the wicket has been put down shall be deemed to be the first frame in which the LED lights are illuminated and subsequent frames show the bail permanently removed from the top of the stumps,” according to the WPL playing rules.

It has also come to light that the match officials were notified of the rule change the morning of the event. The day following the thrilling game, which ended in the Capitals’ advantage, both teams were informed, though.