Cricket Bloopers: When Cricketers Lost Their Cool Over the Umpire’s Call
Cricket is known as the gentleman's game, but on some occasions, fans even get to see the temper of players rise to a great extent. Over the last few years, we have seen various moments when the players lost their control over the umpires for their decisions, some justified, while others were not.
Whether it is a wrong call for LBW, missing out on a no-ball, or a controversial caught behind, the clash between players and umpires has often led to heated exchanges, gestures, and even fines. These are not just moments which captured the headlines in cricket but also the times when fans were reminded that even professionals can cross the lines. Let’s take a look at the moments between umpires and players which sparked tensions.
Ashwin’s Heated Umpire Dispute
Ravichandran Ashwin, often known as one of the coolest players both on and off the field, recently got involved in a heated argument with the umpires in TNPL 2025. The captain of Dindigul Dragons, Ravichandran Ashwin, went against the iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, and the match was being played in Coimbatore.
Ravi Ashwin 😳 pic.twitter.com/oilt51IV0k
— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) June 9, 2025
Coming out to open for his team, Ashwin was given out on a delivery against Sai Kishore. The ball almost pitched outside the leg stump, but the umpire gave him out. Unfortunately, the team had used both of their reviews, due to which Ashwin had no other option but to walk back to the pavilion. But it was sure that he wasn’t happy, as he argued with the umpires for a long time.
After the argument, he went to the dugout and smashed his pads, throwing away his gloves, which clearly highlighted the anger of the former Indian all-rounder. This clip went viral immediately across the social media platforms, and fans were shocked to see this side of the star player, who was always seen calm on the field.
Ravichandran Ashwin got angry on Umpire, throws his gloves towards the spectators in Domestic League called TNPL 🧐
— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) June 9, 2025
~ What's your take on this 🤔 pic.twitter.com/5Dbk9AiSle
Following the match, Ashwin also received a 30% fine, as 10% was for the dissent and 20% was for the misuse of equipment. He received mixed reactions on social media for his actions, as some fans defended his actions, arguing that the decision was wrong. On the other hand, a few of them even said that this was not just about the decision, but also about professionalism and respect.
Umpire Decision Triggers Shakib’s Wrath
Shakib al Hasan is undoubtedly one of the most aggressive cricketers in the modern era, known for his aggression against the players. But his moments have not just always been against the opposition, as some of them even came out against the umpires. One such moment came in the Dhaka Premier League, when Mohammedan Sporting Club and Abahani Limited went against each other.
In the fifth over, Shakib bowled an unplayable delivery to Mushfiqur Rahim, and the ball struck his pads. Even after a massive appeal, it was turned down by the umpire, which made him furious. He went towards the umpire, but before that, he kicked the stumps at the non-striker’s end, and then went on to confront the umpire Imran Parvez.
Following that, another incident took place in the 6th over, when the umpires demanded to stop the match for a rain-induced break. This also made Shakib al Hasan furious, as he went towards the non-striker’s end and pulled out the stumps, throwing them on the ground aggressively. He was also seen having an aggressive chat with the umpires before retreating to the pavilion.
The footage of his expressions and confrontations quickly went viral, as most of the fans called that such behaviour doesn’t suit a sportsman. Along with that, the issue took another level when an umpire, Moniruzzaman, resigned from his duties, saying that such disrespect by players like Shakib al Hasan can’t be handled.
Dhoni’s Umpire Clash in IPL
MS Dhoni goes by the name Captain Cool on the cricket field, as he is known for handling situations with a cool mind. But there was a moment in IPL 2019, when Captain Cool lost his cool, not on the players, but the umpires. During the match against the Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, the match stood at an edge when CSK needed 8 runs to win off three balls.
Dhoni was batting well for the team but unfortunately lost his wicket towards the end, after which Mitchell Santner came onto the crease. The first ball he played was at waist height, which is generally given a no-ball. The umpire at the non-striker’s end signalled a no-ball, but it was overruled by Oxenford, who was the leg umpire.
Although Santner managed to take 2 runs off the delivery, he and Jadeja went to argue with the umpire for the no-ball. Following a discussion, MS Dhoni, who had just gone back to the pavilion, came back to the crease, heating the argument even more. Dhoni demanded a clarification by the umpires following the no-ball signal, which was overruled.
However, the leg umpire remained on his decision, and Dhoni walked off the field in anger. Santner was able to finish the match on the very next ball with a six, allowing CSK to secure a win. After the match, MS Dhoni also clarified his actions, saying that he shouldn’t have stepped up on the field against the umpires.
Kuldeep Snaps at Umpire Decision
Another moment when the players snapped at the umpires came in the IPL 2025, when Kuldeep Yadav lost his cool. Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals faced each other at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where Kuldeep Yadav was just close to reaching 100 wickets in the IPL. In the 8th over, he was able to trap Sai Sudharsan in a googly, which struck his pads.
Following an appeal, the on-field umpire turned it not out, and with a discussion by the team’s captain, Axar Patel decided to take a review. The ball was clearly having contact with the leg stump, but with the umpire’s call, Sai Sudharsan remained not out, and Delhi also didn’t lose their review. However, after the team had taken the review, Kuldeep was heard on the stump mic, saying, “Agar umpire’s call hua toh…”
His teammates Faf du Plessis and Axar Patel marched closer to him to calm down the situation and also ensure that it didn’t escalate any further. When the replays surfaced, it was clear that it could have been out with the umpire’s call if the decision initially favoured Kuldeep. After the decision remained the same, the spinner gave a death stare to the umpire.
This moment also spread quickly across the social media platforms, where some fans also defended the actions of Kuldeep Yadav, noting the fact that he was just about to reach the 100-wicket mark in the IPL. On the other hand, some analysts also said that such actions could also lead to dissent in the IPL Code of Conduct.
Ishan Kishan Took a Dig at the Umpire
Ishan Kishan, the wicket keeper of the Indian team, also had an aggressive moment with the umpires on the field. This incident took place during the match between India A and Australia A, which took place in November 2024, ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. During the match, the umpire decided to change the ball, citing the scratch marks.
Following this, Ishan Kishan said, “That’s a very stupid decision.” The umpire, Shawn Craig, also heard what Ishan Kishan said, and he responded by saying, “That’s inappropriate behaviour.” The clip of this incident was also released by the Australian media, which invited a little bit of backlash from the fans.
However, some of them even agreed with the Indian star that he was just questioning the decisions taken by the umpire to change the ball. One user said that it was right of the umpire to give a clear warning to Ishan Kishan, saying that such behaviour won’t be accepted.
Ishan Kishan criticized the umpire for not replacing the ball before the start of play on Day 4.
— CricketGully (@thecricketgully) November 3, 2024
Umpire Shawn Craig: "Scratch it, we change the ball…no more discussion, let's play."
Ishan: "So we are going to play with this ball…that's a very stupid decision."
Umpire:… pic.twitter.com/pcTMvsckjA
Later, it was also clarified that the actions taken by Ishan Kishan were to ensure that no ball tampering allegations were put against the Indian team. Cricket Australia told the team that Ishan Kishan and the ball were changed due to routine wear, and there were no charges of ball tampering.
Why Even the Best Sometimes Cross the Line
Cricket may pride itself on being a game of discipline and respect, but these moments reveal that emotions often run high, even among the calmest and most seasoned players. From Ashwin’s visible outrage in the TNPL to Shakib’s stump-kicking fury in the Dhaka Premier League, and from Dhoni’s rare on-field confrontation to Kuldeep and Ishan’s mic’d-up frustrations — each incident reflects just how much is at stake in a split-second umpiring decision.
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