Cricket fans have slammed Mahendra Singh Dhoni for apparently bullying umpire Paul Reiffel into changing a wide call during an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 game.
The event occurred on Tuesday when Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings paceman Shardul Thakur bowled outside the off stump of Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman Rashid Khan. Umpire Reiffel, who played 35 Tests for Australia before retiring, appeared to start the signal for a wide both arms outstretched at shoulder height when Dhoni began protesting.
Commentator Ian Bishop, a former West Indian international, said on ESPNcricinfo that Reiffel had erred.
Bishop said: “He started calling it a wide, he looked up, saw Dhoni and he changed his mind. I am someone who is sympathetic to the umpires because it is a difficult job, but tonight I will say that Reiffel made a mistake.”
Hyderabad captain David Warner also seemed visibly unhappy from the dugout of the Dubai stadium in the United Arab Emirates.
