'Could not understand Ishan Kishan's honesty': SRH batter's 'brain fade' criticised by experts as fans question his deci

Even the umpire was left in a shock with Ishan Kishan’s decision to walk off when he was not out against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025. read more

Ishan Kishan was not out but walked off without waiting for umpire's decision. Images: Reuters/JioHotstar

Ishan Kishan’s decision to walk off despite not being out and not waiting for the umpire’s decision in the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) vs Mumbai Indians (MI) match has led to a barrage of criticism for the Indian batter. Greats like Virender Sehwag have criticised Ishan Kishan, while fans have slammed his decision-making.

Kishan was on 1 from 3 balls when he tried to flick a delivery from Deepak Chahar in Wednesday’s Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Kishan missed the flick as wicket-keeper Ryan Rickelton collected the ball.

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There was no appeal from Chahar and Rickelton as it looked like the ball had evaded the bat. But just as umpire Vinod Seshan started stretching his hands to signal a wide, Kishan walked off the field of play.

Fairplay or facepalm? 🤯

Ishan Kishan walks... but UltraEdge says 'not out!' What just happened?!

Watch the LIVE action ➡ https://t.co/sDBWQG63Cl #IPLonJioStar 👉 #SRHvMI | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/bQa3cVY1vG — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 23, 2025

Seshan had to reverse his decision as he gave out. Later, the UltraEdge confirmed that there was no edge as a huge gap between the bat and the ball was visible.

Ishan Kishan slammed by greats for his ‘honesty’

Slamming Kishan for his “honesty,” former Indian opener Sehwag said that the SRH batter should have waited for the umpire to take the final call.

“Many times, the mind fails to work at that moment. It was brain fade. Ruk toh jaa. Umpire bhi paise le rahe hai (Stop at least and wait for the umpire to make his decision. He is also charging some amount of money for his job). Let him do his work. I could not understand this honesty,” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.

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“Had it been an edge, it would have been understandable because that would be in the spirit of the game. But it was neither out, the umpire was unsure, and you started walking off all of a sudden. Then even the umpire is in a dilemma. Ricky Ponting used to say that my work was to bat, the umpire’s work is to decide on the dismissal.”

Former Indian pacer Varun Aaron was equally perplexed as he criticised Kishan for walking away without any real appeal.

“It was quite bizarre. He obviously felt that he hit the ball. No batsman is going to walk if he didn’t feel like he hit the ball. But when the umpire was hesitant, there was no real appeal from the fielders, he should’ve just reviewed it. I don’t know why he didn’t review it. And of course, in the dressing room, it was quite sad because he is already at an average of 6 (5.50 over last 7 IPL matches) now. It’s appalling,” Aaron told ESPNCricinfo.

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Baffled by Kishan’s decision, former India batter Manoj Tiwary asked for an explanation.

“Ishan kishan’s dismissal today against Mumbai Indian ?? I’m waiting to hear from Ishan himself, what was he thinking at that time ?? Baffling,” Tiwary wrote on X.

Ishan kishan’s dismissal today against Mumbai Indian ?? I’m waiting to hear 👂 from Ishan himself, what was he thinking at that time ?? Baffling #SRHvsMI — MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) April 23, 2025

The incident was so bizarre that it left even veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle, who has covered a lot of cricket, in shock.

“You think you have seen it all after all these years and yet I must admit the Ishan Kishan dismissal leaves me perplexed,” Bhogle wrote on X.

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Sunrisers fans question Kishan’s decision

The Sunrisers fans were even more livid with Ishan Kishan’s decision to give away his wicket when the team is in a poor shape in IPL 2025. SRH, who reached the finals of IPL 2024, are with six defeats in eight matches and look set to miss out on the IPL 2025 playoffs.

Fans demanded answers from Kishan while criticising the batter on social media platforms. Some also alleged match-fixing, while a few said it was the end of his career.

“Umpire was initially giving wide, but when he saw Ishan Kishan walking, changed his decision to out. I feel this is end of Ishan Kishan’s cricket career. I don’t see him playing many matches in future with such bad judgement tendencies,” a fan wrote on X.

Sunrisers had spent Rs 11.25 crore in the mega auction to buy Kishan, however, the 26-year-old has only scored 139 runs in eight matches.

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