SRH Likely to Approach BCCI Over Avesh Khan Ball-Hitting Incident in IPL 2026
The Sunrisers Hyderabad are reportedly considering approaching the Board of Control for Cricket in India following a controversial incident involving Avesh Khan during their IPL 2026 match against the Lucknow Super Giants on April 5, according to reports by Cricbuzz.
The controversy centers on the final ball of the game when LSG captain Rishabh Pant hit a boundary off Jaydev Unadkat. As the ball was heading toward the boundary, Avesh Khan, positioned near the dugout, struck it back into the ground with his bat. Questions arose over whether the ball had already crossed the rope, with some arguing that SRH should have been awarded penalty runs under the laws on dead ball (Law 20.1) and unfair play (Law 41).
However, match officials did not see the act as an attempt to prevent the boundary, as no fielder was near the ball, and therefore, the laws regarding unfair play were not applied. An umpire familiar with the situation reportedly confirmed that there was no justification to change the boundary decision. Lucknow Super Giants went on to complete their chase with one ball to spare, winning by five wickets.
This incident is not the first time SRH have expressed dissatisfaction with decisions in IPL 2026. In their opening match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, the franchise raised concerns about the dismissal of Heinrich Klaasen, caught near the boundary by Phil Salt off Romario Shepherd. Similarly, in their second match against Kolkata Knight Riders, they questioned the dismissal of Abhishek Sharma, caught by Varun Chakaravarthy off Blessing Muzarabani, amid unclear evidence of a clean catch.
While none of these results are expected to be overturned, Cricbuzz reports that SRH may formally write to the BCCI to highlight their concerns over umpiring and perceived unfair play. The franchise’s move underscores ongoing debates around consistency in decision-making and the interpretation of laws in high-stakes matches.
As IPL 2026 continues, all eyes will be on how the BCCI responds to SRH’s concerns and whether any clarifications or procedural changes are implemented to prevent similar controversies in future matches.
