In a dramatic moment during the IPL 2025 match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium on May 1, 2025, MI batter Rohit Sharma sparked controversy with a last-second Decision Review System (DRS) call. The incident happened in the second over of MI's innings, as Sharma faced a stunning delivery from the RR left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi. The ball hit Sharma's pads, and the on-field umpire immediately raised the finger, indicating an LBW dismissal. 

Sharma wasted no time when he hesitated and looked to facilitate a review when the DRS window hit zero on the stadium screen, prompting debate. Social media blew up as fans and pundits reacted to the umpire's insistence to allow the review because the 15-second DRS window appeared to elapse. Fortunately for Sharma and MI fans, the ball-tracker revealed the ball had pitched outside leg stump to overturn the decision to not out. Sharma went on to score 53, which ultimately became important as RR finally dismissed him via a catch from Yashasvi Jaiswal off the bowling of Riyan Parag.

Umpiring Mistake or Fair Play? 

This incident has called into question the application of DRS protocols in the IPL. There were several posts on social media questioning the issue, with several people claiming that the umpire's ambiguous availability of consideration to MI may not have been available to the RR batters. Critics said that the rules of DRS govern a 15-second time frame in which the player must signal for a review, and Sharma's late motion to raise his arm would have indicated he violated the rules. In fairness to the umpire, he punted, and it likely was an error or a discretionary decision that will open debates on 'fairness of the application of DRS in IPL games.'

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Do you think Rohit Sharma took drs after time was over ?🤔 #RRvsMI #MIvsRR pic.twitter.com/xOggSefUNA

— Sumit Kapoor (@moneygurusumit) May 1, 2025

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In terms of MI, Ryan Rickleton and Rohit Sharma banged brisk half-centuries to lead Mumbai Indians to a challenging 217 for two against Rajasthan Royals in an Indian Premier League match in Jaipur. Throughout the match they looked like they were on the front foot, and Sharma and Ryan Rickelton (61) created a destructive partnership of 58 runs in the powerplay. Captain Hardik Pandya (48 off 23 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav (48 off 23) added the finishing touches to MI's innings with their explosive innings, even as they were under disappointing spin bowling with RR making MI grind. The enigma of DRS and umpires' oversight and allowing these errors, considered 'conventional' in IPL games, is important for the integrity of the game among full-time stakeholders. The code for enforceability for DRS needs to become more stringent to preserve the integrity of the game.