Explained: Why Mumbai Indians penalized for odd no-ball in IPL 2025 game vs Delhi Capitals

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The IPL 2025 clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Wankhede Stadium was packed with drama, but one incident in particular left fans and players scratching their heads.

Cricket fans are used to seeing no-balls called for overstepping the crease or dangerous deliveries, but the one signalled against MI was due to a little-known fielding regulation. On the third delivery of the fifth over, bowled by Will Jacks, the umpire noticed that MI had only three fielders stationed on the off-side, with the rest crowding the leg-side. According to IPL’s match playing conditions, specifically section 28.4.1, no more than five fielders are allowed on the on-side at the instant of delivery.

This rule is in place to maintain a balance between bat and ball, preventing teams from stacking one side of the field to stifle scoring or exploit a batter’s weaknesses. By having six fielders on the leg-side, MI breached this rule, prompting the umpire to immediately signal a no-ball—a penalty rarely seen at this level of the game.

The immediate consequence was significant: Delhi’s Vipraj Nigam capitalized on the free-hit, smashing a six and following up with two boundaries, momentarily shifting momentum in DC’s favour. However, MI’s overall dominance in the match ensured that this costly error didn’t impact the final result.

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Despite this momentary lapse, Mumbai bounced back in emphatic fashion. Suryakumar Yadav delivered a scintillating unbeaten 73 off 43 balls, anchoring MI’s innings to a competitive total of 180. His fearless shot-making under pressure ensured that Mumbai finished strong, collecting 48 runs off the last two overs.

Delhi, chasing a steep target without their captain Axar Patel, faltered badly. Their top order crumbled in the powerplay, leaving little hope for a comeback. Sameer Rizvi showed some resistance with a 39-run knock, but MI’s bowling unit, led by Mitchell Santner (3/11) and Jasprit Bumrah (3/12), wrapped up the innings in 18.2 overs.

With this commanding 59-run win, MI secured the final playoff berth, making a triumphant return to the top four after missing out last season. While the no-ball incident added a layer of intrigue, it ultimately served as a footnote in a game defined by Mumbai’s dominance and Delhi’s underwhelming response.

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