Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), co-owned by Kavya Maran, have taken an unusual step during IPL 2026 by formally reaching out to the BCCI, asking for clarity over a series of contentious on-field decisions. The franchise’s concerns have been building over multiple matches, but the latest incident involving Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pacer Avesh Khan has brought the issue into sharp focus.
Avesh Khan ball-hitting row
The controversy unfolded during SRH’s narrow defeat to LSG at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday, April 5. With just one run required off the final two balls, Rishabh Pant struck a shot towards the boundary. As the ball sped towards the rope, Avesh Khan, who was positioned near the dugout, used his bat to push it back into play.
OVER THE IN-FIELD! 😍
Captain Rishabh Pant guides the chase and finishes it off in style 🤌@LucknowIPL off the mark on the points table +2️⃣
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/qC2rF1Hiiz#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #SRHvLSG pic.twitter.com/SEDFsub4UD
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 5, 2026
This moment immediately sparked debate. The key question was whether the ball had already touched the boundary cushion before Avesh intervened. If it had, SRH could have been entitled to additional penalty runs under the rules. Fans on social media were quick to highlight potential violations, pointing to laws related to dead ball situations and unfair play.
However, the match officials took a different view. They concluded that Avesh’s action, while unconventional, did not directly interfere with any fielder attempting to stop the boundary. Since no player was in a position to field the ball at that moment, the act was not deemed to have influenced the outcome unfairly. As a result, no penalty was awarded, and the decision stood.
While the ruling may have been technically correct, it has clearly not satisfied SRH, who feel the situation deserved closer scrutiny.
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SRH’s growing frustration: More than one incident
The Avesh Khan episode is not an isolated concern for Sunrisers Hyderabad. The franchise has reportedly raised multiple issues from earlier matches, suggesting a pattern of decisions that have gone against them.
One such instance occurred in their game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), where Heinrich Klaasen was dismissed near the boundary. Questions were raised about whether the fielder, Phil Salt, had made contact with the boundary cushion while completing the catch. Despite the doubts, the decision was upheld.
Another flashpoint came during SRH’s clash with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), when Abhishek Sharma was given out following a low catch by Varun Chakravarthy. Replays failed to provide clear evidence of whether the ball had been cleanly taken, leading to further debate. Abhishek’s visible frustration at the decision later resulted in a fine for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct.
Individually, each of these incidents might be seen as part of the game, where close calls are inevitable. But from SRH’s perspective, the accumulation of such moments has raised concerns about consistency and clarity in decision-making.
The franchise understands that match results are unlikely to be overturned. However, their request to the BCCI is more about seeking transparency and ensuring that similar situations are handled more clearly in the future.
At this stage of the tournament, SRH’s campaign remains finely balanced. With one win and two losses from their opening matches, they are still very much in contention. However, such controversies can affect team morale, especially when players feel decisions are not going their way.
Looking ahead, SRH will hope to shift their focus back to on-field performances as they prepare to face Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 11. At the same time, their appeal to the BCCI could play an important role in shaping how similar incidents are interpreted going forward.
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