Varun Chakravarthy Questions After IPL Heinrich Klaasen Discussion

Varun Chakravarthy has chipped in with his view on the Heinrich Klaasen controversy during the MI vs SRH clash in IPL 2025. Mumbai Indians keeper Ryan Rickelton was given a reprieve after Klaasen had his gloves ahead of the stumps. The umpires ruled the delivery as no ball, much to the anguish of Zeeshan Ansari at the Wankhede Stadium.

“What did the bowler do?” – Varun questions IPL rule

Ryan Rickelton was caught by Pat Cummins at cover off Zeeshan Ansari in the 7th over of the Mumbai Indians’ innings. However, drama ensued after the fourth umpire deemed Heinrich Klaasen’s gloves to be ahead of the stumps, deeming it a no-ball. Rickelton survived, receiving a free hit the next ball. Ansari was aghast at the decision, crestfallen to see his good work go to waste.

Varun Chakravarthy sympathised with Ansari, suggesting a rule change. The Kolkata Knight Riders spinner thought it was unfair to penalise the bowler for a keeper’s mistake, suggesting a warning and a dead ball would suffice.

He wrote, “If the keeper’s gloves come in front of the stumps, it should be a dead ball and a warning to the keeper so that he doesn’t do that again !!! Not a no ball and a free hit!! What did the bowler do.”

What does the rule say?

Klaasen’s mistake falls under rules regulated for unfair movement (Law 27.4), with the umpires well placed to call it an illegal delivery and award an extra run to the batting side. As per the laws regulated by MCC, a wicketkeeper is not allowed to touch the ball until it either passes the stumps or is played by the batter. If the wicket-keeper moves too early, then the on-field officials can reprimand the keeper and call it a no-ball. While Klaasen did not collect the ball in Ryan Rickelton’s instance, he still had his hands ahead of the stumps while the Proteas batter played at it.