At the conclusion of the first innings in Jaipur, Delhi Capitals were tasked with chasing a target of 186 runs, courtesy of a stellar unbeaten innings from Riyan Parag, who scored 84 runs from 45 deliveries, rescuing Rajasthan Royals from a precarious position.
In response, the opening pair for Delhi Capitals, consisting of David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, took to the field. However, their momentum was abruptly halted after just two deliveries due to a protest raised by their head coach, Ricky Ponting.
During the innings break, Rajasthan Royals made a strategic substitution, bringing in Proteas pacer Nandre Burger as an Impact Player in place of Shimron Hetmyer.
This decision caused controversy when Rovman Powell was called onto the field as a substitute fielder, leading Ponting to allege that this would exceed the permissible limit of overseas players for Rajasthan.
Tensions escalated, with Ponting expressing his grievances while Warner, Jos Buttler, and umpire Nitin Menon engaged in discussions on the field. Despite Ponting’s objections, Powell was eventually allowed to take the field, sparking further frustration from the Delhi Capitals’ coach.
— Debi Cha (@ChaDebi95756) March 28, 2024
— Debi Cha (@ChaDebi95756) March 28, 2024
However, a few deliveries later, the fourth official intervened, clarifying to Ponting that the Royals had merely substituted one foreign player for another, ensuring that they still adhered to the limit of four overseas players on the field. Although this clarification did little to assuage Ponting’s emotions, it provided entertainment for fans on Twitter.