Should Rohit Sharma Have Been Allowed To Bat In Second Super Over? Entire Controversy Explained

IND vs AFG: Rohit Sharma came out to bat in the second super over after being retired for the last ball of the first super over.

India captain Rohit Sharma was allowed to bat in the second super over where he scored 11 off 3.

Source : PTI

It was a cliffhanger of a T20I as India and Afghanistan locked horns in the third and final T20I of the three-match series at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. International cricket witnesssed more than one super over for the first time as the two teams could not be separated after the end of the 20-overs quota as well as the one-over eliminator. However, controversy arose after Rohit Sharma walked out to bat in the second super over after he had retired in the last ball of the first super over to make way for Rinku Singh who, he reckoned, could have run faster.

The India captain showcased his tactical brilliance as India needed two to win off the last ball and with him stranded on the non-strikers end, India needed someone could have run faster at that stage. However, Yashasvi Jaiswal who was at the striker's end, ended up getting only a run, forcing the match into a second super over. After much deliberation though, India went in with Rohit and Rinku as the batters to begin the second super over, a decision which is being frowned upon.

What Do The ICC's Playing Conditions Suggest?

Notably, ICC's playing conditions states: "[a]ny batsman dismissed in any previous Super Over shall be ineligible to bat in any subsequent Super Over" which is what has created a controversy. However, the umpires did not state whether Rohit was "retired out" or "retired hurt." 

But then again as per law 25.4.2 of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), guardian of laws, a batter is considered "retired not out" only  if he retires because of illness, injury or any other circumstances and fails to resume his innings. He/She is allowed to resume innings only in these circumstances, which was clearly not the case with Rohit in the third and final T20I at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

It remains to be seen whether any clarification comes from the umpires or the match referee.