The 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) clash between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow saw a major controversy as Angrish Raghuvanshi was dismissed in a rare manner as the third umpire declared him to be ‘obstructing the field,’ in a decision that has sparked major controversy.
Raghuvanshi is only the fourth player in the history of the IPL to be dismissed in this manner. Previously in the 19 seasons of the league, only Yusuf Pathan (KKR vs. Pune Warriors India in 2013), Amit Mishra (Delhi Capitals vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2019), and Ravindra Jadeja (Chennai Super Kings vs. Rajasthan Royals in 2024) have faced a similar fate.
In international cricket, the dismissal has taken place a few times, with the most famous example being Inzamam-ul-Haq during an ODI between Pakistan and India in 2006 at Peshawar. Overall, two players have been dismissed in this manner during a men’s Test match, while nine and six cricketers have been dismissed in men’s ODIs and T20Is, respectively.
What Is Obstructing The Field?
The obstructing the field law comes under Law 37 of the Marylebone Cricket Club’s (MCC) Laws of Cricket. Essentially, it is in place to ensure that no player is able to distract a fielding side from either completing a run out or taking a catch. The regulation has six sub-sections.
Law 37 – What Does It Say – Full Text
37.1 Out Obstructing the field
37.1.1 Either batter is out Obstructing the field if, except in the circumstances of 37.2, and while the ball is in play, he/she willfully attempts to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action. See also Law 34 (Hit the ball twice).
37.1.2 The striker is out Obstructing the field if, except in the circumstances of 37.2, in the act of receiving a ball delivered by the bowler, he/she willfully strikes the ball with a hand not holding the bat. This will apply whether it is the first strike or a second or subsequent strike. The act of receiving the ball shall extend both to playing at the ball and to striking the ball more than once in defense of his/her wicket.
37.1.3 This Law will apply whether or not No ball is called.
37.2 Not out Obstructing the field
A batter shall not be out Obstructing the field if the obstruction or distraction is accidental,
or the obstruction is in order to avoid injury,
or in the case of the striker, he/she makes a second or subsequent strike to guard his/her wicket lawfully as in Law 34.3 (Ball lawfully struck more than once).
However, see 37.3.
37.3 Obstructing a ball from being caught
37.3.1 If the delivery is not a No ball, the striker is out Obstructing the field if willful obstruction or distraction by either batter prevents the striker being out Caught.
37.3.2 37.3.1 shall apply even if an obstruction is caused by the striker in lawfully guarding his/her wicket under the provision of Law 34.3 (Ball lawfully struck more than once).
37.3.3 If an obstruction or distraction takes place from a No ball then the batter who caused the obstruction or distraction will be out Obstructing the field.
However, the striker is not out if the obstruction of a catch occurs while defending his/her wicket from a No ball with a lawful second strike.
37.4 Returning the ball to a fielder
Either batter is out Obstructing the field if, at any time while the ball is in play and, without the consent of a fielder, he/she uses the bat or any part of his/her person to return the ball to any fielder.
37.5 runs scored
When either batter is dismissed Obstructing the field,
37.5.1 unless the obstruction or distraction prevents the striker being out Caught, any runs completed by the batters before the offense shall be scored, together with any one-run Penalty for No ball or Wide, or any other award of 5 Penalty runs to either side. See Laws 18.6 (Runs awarded for penalties) and 18.8 (Runs scored when a batter is dismissed).
37.5.2 if the obstruction or distraction prevents the striker being out Caught, any runs completed by the batters shall not be scored but any award of 5 Penalty runs to either side shall stand. Law 18.11 (Batter returning to original end) will apply.
37.6 Bowler does not get credit
