Sundaram Ravi and Ulhas Gandhe's bloopers have raised questions on the standard of umpiring in the IPL but it is Mahendra Singh Dhoni's public outburst that has triggered a debate on whether star players get away with intimidating match officials.
For the first time in his illustrious career, Dhoni, a two-time World Cup winning former India captain, entered the field of play for an angry confrontation with umpire Gandhe, who backtracked after signalling a no ball during an IPL match on Thursday night.
"Obviously star players try to pressurise umpires but it's up to the umpires to withstand the pressure. They will do what they feel but it depends on the personality of the umpire," one of India's most well-known international umpires, K Hariharan, told PTI on Friday.
As per laws, Dhoni had no right to enter the field of play and has got away with a fine of 50 percent of his match fees, something that will be paid by his franchise Chennai Super Kings.
The maximum punishment for this Level 2 offence could have been a two-match ban but even that was liable for appeal.
Dhoni's confrontation is the second incident in the first three weeks of the tournament in which a superstar cricketer has blasted the umpire.
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Earlier, it was Virat Kohli, who was livid with ICC Elite Panel Umpire Ravi for failing to spot a no ball bowled by Lasith Malinga which proved costly for his team in the end.
"We are not playing club cricket. Umpires need to be smarter," Kohli had lashed out.
Even his rival IPL captain and India deputy Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians) was critical of the quality of umpiring on that day.
However, Kohli was not even reprimanded even though the ICC Code of Conduct clearly states that players cannot publicly criticise umpiring decisions.
In Indian cricket, especially the domestic umpires, have always been edgy when put under the pump by star players.
"For any umpire, it is necessary to have courage to stick to his decision," said Hariharan, who has stood in two Tests and 34 ODIs apart from officiating in first three seasons of IPL.
Hariharan then came to the game specifics of the CSK versus Rajasthan Royals clash in which Dhoni had the unprecedented meltdown.
"Let's get this straight. As per ICC playing conditions, it was square leg umpire Bruce Oxenford's prerogative to check waist high full toss. Umpire Gandhe had no business signalling no ball. He got it wrong.
"Now coming to commentators and experts. No umpire can go upstairs to check for validity of a no ball if the batsman is not out. So, umpires couldn't have referred it to TV umpire," said Hariharan.
"Lastly, Mahendra Singh Dhoni had no business entering the ground as that is completely prohibited. For starters, the 50 percent fine is a very light sanction," said Hariharan.
He feels that not all umpires are bullied by players and ones consistent with their decisions get respect.
"A good umpire is one who gets his decisions correct but a great umpire is someone blessed with 'Match Management' skills. It's different from giving decisions. It's about controlling the match."
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