Watch: Hetmyer furious after controversial run-out vs India

West Indies had a difficult start to the first T20I against India at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday, October 6. The visitors lost Shimron Hetmyer to a controversial run-out that left the batter visibly unhappy.

Hetmyer came to the crease at No. 3 when West Indies were 38/1 after 4.3 overs. However, his stay was short as he was dismissed for just five runs off two balls. The run-out came in the sixth over after a misfield from Axar Patel gave India a chance to complete a sharp dismissal.

The third umpire was called into action to check the run-out, and Hetmyer appeared unhappy with the decision after being given out. The dismissal quickly became a talking point, with the dramatic involvement of Iyer and Samson adding to the controversy.

Watch the controversial run-out here:

Shimron Hetmyer run out in a dramatic Iyer-Samson combination

The incident took place in the sixth over when Axar Patel bowled to Shai Hope. Hope played the ball towards the cover region, where Axar made a diving stop. The ball deflected off his left hand and moved away, giving the West Indies batters a chance to take a quick run.

Shreyas Iyer quickly reached the ball and threw it towards wicketkeeper Sanju Samson. The throw was not directly at the stumps, but Samson reacted quickly, collected the ball and broke the stumps as Hetmyer made a full-length dive to reach the crease. The on-field umpires sent the decision upstairs for a review.

The replays showed that Hetmyer’s bat was in the air when Samson removed the bails. Although the bat appeared to have crossed the crease, it was not grounded behind the line at the crucial moment. Hetmyer was clearly frustrated with the decision and spoke to the umpires before walking back to the dressing room, with his disappointment also visible in the dugout.

What happened on the field and why Hetmyer was unhappy with the decision

The run-out happened after Axar Patel made a quick fielding effort and threw the ball towards wicketkeeper Sanju Samson. Shreyas Iyer was also involved in the fielding combination as India reacted quickly to the opportunity. Samson collected the throw and removed the bails while Hetmyer made a full-length dive to reach the crease.

Hetmyer was unhappy with the decision because, although his body and gloves were inside the crease, the toe end of his bat was in the air when Samson removed the bails. The third umpire reviewed the incident several times before confirming the run-out. The decision quickly became a talking point on social media, with fans discussing the dramatic Iyer-Samson combination and the fine margin involved in the dismissal.

The dismissal also added to an unwanted record for Hetmyer. According to Cricbuzz statistics, he has now been run out 7 times in T20Is, the most among West Indies batters. Andre Fletcher is second with 6 run-outs, while Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell and Lendl Simmons have been run out 4 times each.

Fan reactions and what the dismissal means for the West Indies chase

The controversial dismissal quickly caught the attention of cricket fans on social media. Many fans discussed the close call and Hetmyer’s reaction after the third umpire confirmed the run-out. The Iyer-Samson combination also became a talking point because India completed the dismissal in a matter of seconds. Here is how the fans reacted on X:

The early wicket added to West Indies’ problems after they lost Kamil Pooran and Rovman Powell in the powerplay. However, Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford helped the visitors recover, with Hope scoring 52 off 37 balls and Rutherford making 56 off 34 balls. West Indies eventually reached 171 before being bowled out in 19.1 overs.

At the time of writing, India were 102/2 after 10 overs, chasing 172 for victory. Ishan Kishan was batting on 25 off 16 balls, while Shreyas Iyer was unbeaten on 45 off 25 balls. India needed 70 runs from 60 balls to win.