“Blatant Cheating”: Fans Tear Into Umpires As KKR Lose Raghuvanshi For 'Obstructing'

Fans react to Angkrish Raghuvanshi [Source: screengrab]

The KKR franchise has been rocked early by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in match number 38 of the IPL 2026 season. With Mohsin Khan striking thrice inside the first seven overs of the match, the visitors slipped to 31-4 at one stage at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.

Notably, the wicket of KKR’s number three batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi evoked much controversy among fans of the tournament. The youngster, who arrived into the crease at the start of the third over, was given out ‘obstructing the field’ by the on-field umpires.

The moment of dismissal, however, seemed pretty standard with Raghuvanshi turning around only for the ball to accidentally hit him at the time when the youngster had already made his way back into the crease. The controversial moment has since prompted a legion of social media fans to storm to X as they collectively questioned the umpire’s decision.

KKR fans question ‘standard of umpiring’ amid IPL 2026

Angkrish Raghuvanshi at number three was given out ‘obstructing the field’ at the end of the fifth over of the game. The youngster was involved in a huge mix-up with Cameron Green, before he successfully turned around to make his way back inside the crease.

As Raghuvanshi was sprawling across the turf, the cricketer copped a throw from LSG’s Mohammed Shami. While LSG players did indulge in an appeal, television replays indicated that the young KKR batter did not changed his direction, thus proving that he did not intentionally get in line with the throw.

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Even though Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s turning radius seemed pretty standard, the third umpire adjudged him out, thus marking the first-ever ‘obstructing the field’ dismissal of the ongoing IPL 2026 season.

The decision sparked a wave of outrage, especially among KKR fans as they stormed to X to question the ‘standard of umpiring’ in the tournament. Here is a look at some of the fans expressing their reactions over the same.

Mufaddal Vohra

@mufaddal_vohra

🚨 HISTORY CREATED TONIGHT IN THE IPL. 🚨 - Angkrish Raghuvanshi becomes the first player in IPL 2026 to be given out obstructing the field.

Apr 26, 2026, 8:00 PM

Rajiv

@Rajiv1841

These umpires are so incompetent, no way Angkrish Raghuvanshi obstructed the field on purpose, he was in his natural position. Poor poor umpiring, don't know why there are not much foreign umpires this season, we need them atleast as tv umpire!

KKR Karavan

@KkrKaravan

Umpires seem to lose their heads in KKR matches. This is completely unfair — absolutely unacceptable.

Apr 26, 2026, 8:00 PM

𝐊𝐨𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭!𝟎𝐧_👑🚩

@bholination

Umpiring has been a fcking joke in this IPL. Angkrish was given out for obstructing the field, he was just running back to the crease and didn’t do anything deliberately. Even if the ball hadn’t hit him, he was clearly in.

Apr 26, 2026, 8:05 PM

Johns.

@CricCrazyJohns

KKR is unhappy with the decision on Angkrish Raghuvanshi.

Apr 26, 2026, 8:03 PM

TrendPulse

@TrendPulseIND

@mufaddal_vohra Nonsense out, worst decision by Umpire in the history of IPL

Sporty😎

@peamceout

@CricCrazyJohns Should we be happy? This is blatant cheating with us! Most of the batsman change the direction running but he already changed the direction before even the throw was made!

𝙂 𝙐 𝙍 𝙐

@XMonetisation

@CricCrazyJohns Cricket fans are also not happy with the way it happened.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi joins rare unwanted IPL club

In any case, Angkrish Raghuvanshi has now become only the fourth player in the history of the IPL to be given out for ‘obstructing the field’.

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Former KKR all-rounder Yusuf Pathan was the first player to be dismissed in such a manner, doing so back in IPL 2013 against the Pune Warriors India. The other players in this dreadful list are Amit Mishra (IPL 2019) and CSK legend Ravindra Jadeja (IPL 2024).

Mohsin Khan decimates KKR in match 38

Even though Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s controversial dismissal seems to have taken some of the sheen off LSG’s splendid start, the hosts have largely remained in complete control of proceedings courtesy of Mohsin Khan’s fiery opening spell.

The speedster picked up a sensational five-wicket haul at an expense of just 23 runs from his overs, which included the wickets of five of KKR’s top seven batters. At the end of the 11th over, the visitors crashed to 73-6.

Follow KKR vs LSG Live Updates For Each And Every Detail Of The High-Octane IPL 2026 Clash