Was Nitish Rana Out Or Not Out vs CSK? Rule Explained After Controversy

Nitish Rana double dismissal sparks controversy [Source: X and @CREX Instagram]

During the Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings clash on May 6, a rare moment occurred during Delhi's innings when Nitish Rana took guard against Noor Ahmad’s bowling.

Nitish Rana appeared to be involved in a “double dismissal” situation involving the bowler and CSK wicketkeeper Sanju Samson.

At that point, Delhi were already struggling, and Rana’s dismissal at 61/4 in 9.3 overs added to their woes. However, the unusual sequence left fans and commentators puzzled. Let’s take a look at how the dismissal looked like first.

How Was Nitish Rana Dismissed In The DC vs CSK Clash?

On the third ball of the 10th over, Rana played a sweep shot that went high into the air, and a fielder completed the catch near the boundary.

However, even before the catch was taken, the bails on the stumps fell on their own. Multiple angles and replays showed that neither the bowler nor Sanju Samson had made contact with the stumps.

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@MominSyed21193

HISTORIC MOMENT PRODUCED BY NITISH RANA! 🤯 Nitish Rana, an IPL batter, once got dismissed in an extremely rare fashion where he was simultaneously caught and hit-wicket off the same delivery 😭

May 5, 2026, 8:54 PM

The Zing wicket system, which uses low-voltage LED bails that light up instantly when dislodged, added to the confusion. The incident was likely caused by strong winds at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, which had earlier interrupted play as well.

Also Read- CSK Qualification Scenario For IPL 2026 Playoffs After Win vs DC

The bad weather with heavy winds and a few spells of rain before the match already added to the windy conditions that later interrupted the game.

Since the bails were dislodged by wind and not by Nitish Rana or the wicketkeeper, the batter was not given out hit wicket. Instead, the catch stood as the valid mode of dismissal.

What Is The Rule If Bails Fall Before A Batter Is Dismissed?

According to ICC playing conditions, if the bails fall due to external factors like wind while the ball is in play, the wicket is not considered broken unless caused by the ball or a player. Therefore, Rana’s dismissal remained legitimate as a catch.

Under MCC Law 8.5, umpires can even decide to continue play without bails in extreme conditions. In this case, however, play continued with the same set as replacement was not considered even after the windy conditions.

Had Rana dislodged the bails himself before the catch was completed, he would have been ruled out hit wicket, as the ball becomes dead immediately upon such a dismissal.

Delhi Crumble With The Bat As CSK Bag Easy Win

Nevertheless, after Nitish Rana's wicket, the Delhi Capitals were struggling from all fronts. Axar Patel, the skipper, also left the crease for just 2 runs, leaving DC reeling at 69 for 5 at the end of 11 overs.

It was only Tristan Stubbs' 31-ball 38 and Sameer Rizvi's unbeaten 40 which helped the Capitals post a respectable 155 on board.

However, it was soon crumbled by Chennai Super Kings courtesy of an unbeaten 87 from Sanju Samson and Kartik Sharma's 31-ball 41, which led the yellow cap to chase the target inside 17.3 overs.

The easy chase also helped Chennai gain two points and add to their net run rate as they currently sit in the sixth position on the points table.

Also Read- Axar Patel Blames Kuldeep Yadav For DC's Embarrassing Defeat vs CSK