Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are considering a formal complaint to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) following a controversial moment involving Avesh Khan during their IPL 2026 Schedule clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 5.
The incident occurred in the final over when Rishabh Pant struck what proved to be the winning boundary off Jaydev Unadkat.
As the ball raced toward the ropes, Avesh Khan, positioned near the LSG dugout, used a bat to knock it back into the field of play. This sparked immediate debate, with claims that the ball had not fully crossed the boundary at the time of contact.
A section of fans and analysts pointed to the Laws of Cricket, particularly Law 20.1 (Dead Ball) and Law 41 (Unfair Play), suggesting SRH could have been awarded five penalty runs.
However, match officials ruled that the act, while inappropriate, did not interfere with any fielder attempting to stop the ball. With no fielders in proximity and LSG needing just one run to win, the boundary was allowed to stand.
Despite the decision, SRH are reportedly dissatisfied and may escalate the matter to the BCCI. The franchise believes such incidents require clearer enforcement to maintain fairness and consistency in high-pressure matches.
This controversy adds to SRH’s growing list of concerns this season. In their opening game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the dismissal of Heinrich Klaasen near the boundary by Phil Salt raised questions.
Similarly, in their clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), decisions involving Abhishek Sharma and a catch by Varun Chakravarthy off Blessing Muzarabani were also disputed.
While none of these decisions are expected to be overturned, SRH’s potential move to approach the BCCI highlights a broader issue surrounding umpiring consistency and rule interpretation in IPL 2026.
As the tournament progresses, the outcome of this complaint could influence how similar incidents are handled, making it a significant moment in the ongoing season.
