Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli in RCB vs LSG
Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli in RCB vs LSG. Image Credits: Twitter

Former English skipper, Eoin Morgan thinks if Harshal Patel would have completed run out at the non-striker’s end, then it would be a high voltage battle between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. While former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper also agrees with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder, Ben Stokes on awarding a penalty run if a non-striking batter takes an unfair advantage by leaving the bowling crease early.

While in the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) clash, Harshal couldn’t dislodge the bails on the last ball when 1 run was required. Had he succeeded in doing so, RCB would’ve tied the game and forced a super over.

Interestingly, after the game, LSG mentor Gambhir was seen with a ‘finger on lips’ gesture towards RCB’s fans, while Kohli was present in the game as a Bangalore-based side batter.

Harshal Patel attempted run out against LSG
Harshal Patel attempted to run out against LSG. Image Credits: Twitter

Eoin Morgan reacts to Ben Stokes’ suggestion on ‘Mankad’ run out-

“Umpires discretion.. 6 penalty runs if obviously trying to gain an unfair advantage by leaving the crease early? Would stop batters doing it without all the controversy,” Stokes wrote on his official Twitter profile.

Running out a non-striker before a ball is bowled has always been a controversial topic. While being completely legal within the laws of the game, many players and critics find it against the spirit of cricket.

Besides, many have suggested changes to this rule, one of them being Eoin Morgan, while after the Jos Buttler and Ravichandran Ashwin run-out incident, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) legitimise the incident.

“I agree in principle. I don’t think it should be a wicket. A wicket has too much impact in the game. I think six is too many, 5 is the answer. If you need one to win, it’s a prime example of somebody leaving the crease early, then they need 6 to win. If they needed more than 1 to win, the game is dead until the bowler bowls a no ball or a wide,” Morgan on Stokes’ suggestion.

In the 15 match of IPL 2023, the Faf du Plessis-led side batted first at their home turf and posted a massive target of 213 runs, while in chase LSG chased down the target in the last ball, with one wicket in hand, as Ravi Bishnoi and Avesh Khan completed one run after wicket-keeper, Dinesh Karthik was not able to grab the ball properly.

“Not for one moment, do I think it was a conscious effort. Harshal Patel was running in and must have been in shock to see how far away he (Bishnoi was) and missed the run-out,”

“But if he had run him out, there would have been a pitch invasion. It would have been Kohli-Gambhir gloves off,” said Ex-KKR skipper on Jio Cinema.

During the 2013 season of IPL, both Kohli and Gambhir were involved in a verbal spat. Little short of a decade later, Gambhir spoke about the incident and said that he didn’t hold anything “personal” against Kohli. In that match, Kohli was leading RCB, while the former Indian cricketer was captaining KKR when they were involved in a tussle.

Also read: Eoin Morgan Backs England’s Ben Stokes And Jofra Archer To Manage Injuries Well In IPL 2023