In the intense IPL 2025 match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Delhi Capitals (DC) at Chepauk, the Men in Yellow were in trouble early while pursuing a tough target of 184. CSK lost two important wickets within the powerplay, courtesy of a scorching opening by Mukesh Kumar and Mitchell Starc.
Kumar drew first blood, and Starc sealed the deal by sending CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad packing in his second over. But what followed was of interest to the fans and also led to a small controversy.
Starc’s Missed Opportunity and Porel’s Critical Call
On the fifth ball of the third over, Starc let out a precise yorker that struck Vijay Shankar’s foot. The Australians appealed loudly, but the on-field umpire was not impressed. Starc was sure of an LBW and turned to wicketkeeper Abishek Porel for assistance.
However, in a bizarre move, Porel kept insisting there was an inside edge and cautioned acting captain Axar Patel against going for the review. The camera footage had different tales to tell. Replays indicated that there was no chance of the bat making contact, and the ball would have crashed into the stumps—an unconditional plumb LBW that might have given DC a huge advantage.
Seconds after the over ended, cameras rolled in to capture KL Rahul wearing the gloves behind the stumps instead of Porel—eliciting a media storm online.
Was Porel Punished? Here’s the Reality
Though fans thought that Porel was taken out of wicketkeeping responsibilities as a result of his error, the reality is quite different. KL Rahul, DC’s appointed wicketkeeper, was away from the field at the beginning of CSK’s innings. In his absence, Porel took up the role of a substitute behind the stumps.
After Rahul’s return, he automatically took back his wicket-keeping job. Hence, Porel wasn’t dropped or penalized; the move was situational and pre-decided.
For Starc, of course, he would feel a bit unfortunate, but DC’s bowling line-up continued to put pressure on CSK in a pivotal encounter at the Chepauk.