Photo via Hindustan Times

Was Axar Patel's reversed wide legal? ICC rules explain the final-over call that helped India escape an upset

India recently fended off a scare from Japan, securing a tight two-run victory after limiting their opponents to 30 runs for the loss of three wickets in response to a total of 32 for four. The turning point arrived during the final over when a delivery from Axar Patel, initially signaled as a wide by umpire Chris Thurgate, was successfully reversed following appeals from the bowling side.

Alexander Shirai-Patmore had shifted across the crease for a reverse sweep, prompting protests from Axar, Sanju Samson, and captain Shreyas Iyer.

After consulting with square-leg umpire Chris Brown, Thurgate changed the call to a legal dot ball, effectively removing an extra run and a crucial additional delivery from Japan's chase. Governing regulations clarify that attempting a reverse sweep does not automatically disqualify a batter from receiving a wide, but umpires must evaluate whether the stroke placement and batter movement brought the ball within reach.