Cricket is a gentleman’s game. This notion has been an afterthought since the days of Lagaan. Now, International cricket might command a certain degree of respect from the competing players, but in a franchise league like the Indian Premier League – the competitiveness, rivalries, and aggression are what makes it both engaging and entertaining for viewers.
A few days back, Sunrisers Hyderabad spin bowling coach Muttiah Muralitharan labelled the league as a “business”, driven by the need to keep viewers engaged and sponsors satisfied. However, that sentiment seemed to fade when Kyle Jamieson celebrated the wicket of 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with intensity, despite minimal provocation. The New Zealand fast bowler was warned for his conduct and handed one demerit point.
The league last year introduced a demerit point system for breaches of the Code of Conduct, which remains valid for 36 months. Accumulation of 4–7 points results in a one-match ban, with higher totals leading to longer suspensions.
“Kyle Jamieson, Bowler, Delhi Capitals, has accumulated one Demerit Point and received a warning for breaching Level 1 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials during Match No. 43 against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur,” IPL said in a statement.
The incident occurred in the second over after Jamieson was struck for a boundary by Sooryavanshi off the very first ball. On the next delivery, Jamieson responded with a pinpoint yorker that beat the youngster and crashed into the stumps.
Clearly pumped up after the dismissal, Jamieson wheeled away in celebration and locked eyes with Sooryavanshi as he walked back, his intense stare adding edge to the early breakthrough.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been so fearful of a 15-year-old kid in my life. But yeah, we had done a bit of planning leading into the game, and it was nice that it paid off,” Jamieson said in an IPL video after the match.
IS THE PUNISHMENT JUSTIFIED?
The moment sparked debate on social media, with fans drawing comparisons to Virat Kohli’s aggressive send-off to Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill after taking his catch at cover.
One user on X wrote, “So now bowlers aren’t even allowed to celebrate after taking a wicket? What kind of double standards is this?”
“Virat Kohli can celebrate, shout, and show aggression without even taking a wicket, and there’s no fine, no action, nothing. But the moment a bowler actually earns a wicket and celebrates, they get fined and slapped with demerit points,” he added.
Others lamented the sport for the unfair treatment of bowlers. “There is a reason Cricket as a sport can never grow to the global level. It treats bowlers like slaves especially in T20 format whose only job is to get smashed by batters. They can’t even give send-offs after taking an imp. wicket,” he added. This is in conjunction with the batters scoring and chasing 200-plus run in the league with ease with bowlers becoming an afterthought given the conditions favouring the batters as well.
The discussion continued to trend online, with one side arguing that Jamieson did nothing beyond competitive spirit, while others maintained that franchise cricket demands restraint and a “modicum of class” on the field.
Virat Kohli will next be in action on May 7, when Royal Challengers Bengaluru travel to Lucknow to take on struggling Lucknow Super Giants, while Jamieson with DC will host Chennai Super Kings on May 5.
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