Fans watching the Indian Premier League (IPL) often get confused during LBW reviews. Sometimes the batter is out, and other times, they are given not out, even when the ball looks like it is hitting the stumps.
One of the most confusing parts in the Decision Review System (DRS) for LBWs is the Umpire’s call. But one part of the LBW rule is straightforward: if the ball pitches outside the leg stump, the batter is always not out.
This article explains why the Umpire’s Call in LBW DRS is used only when checking impact and wickets hitting, and not for the pitching zone.
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LBW DRS in IPL: Why is pitching outside leg always not out?
This rule is very clear in cricket. If the ball lands outside the leg stump, the batter cannot be given out LBW. It doesn’t matter whether the ball hits the pad or if it is going on to hit the stumps. Pitching outside the leg means it’s not out.
Because this part of the rule is fixed, the DRS system does not apply and therefore, there is no case for an Umpire’s Call here. So, the decision is always “not out” if the pitching is outside the leg.
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Where does the Umpire’s Call apply in LBW DRS in IPL?
Umpire’s Call is used only when the decision is very close and the system can’t be fully sure. This applies to two parts - impact and wickets.
For impact, if only a part of the ball hits in line with the stumps, then it may be given as Umpire’s Call.
For hitting the stumps, if the ball is just clipping the stumps and not hitting enough of it, that is also considered an Umpire’s Call. In both cases, the system follows the original on-field decision unless the evidence is clear.
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What does DRS check during LBW reviews?
When an LBW review is taken, DRS checks things step-by-step. First, it checks if the ball was a legal delivery. Then it checks if there was any bat involved. After that, the system looks at three things:
Where the ball is pitched,
Where it hit the batter (impact),
Whether the ball would have hit the stumps.
If the ball pitched outside the leg, the review ends there - the batter is not out.
If the ball is pitched in a legal zone, then Umpire’s Call may apply to impact and stumps, if it is too close to tell, and if the ball is just clipping.
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