Conspiracy theory erupts after star walks despite not hitting the ball

The cricket world couldn’t quite believe what they were watching when a star walked off the field in a head-scratching moment.

Truly bizarre scenes have unfolded overnight during the IPL clash as the Mumbai Indians claimed a dominant win over Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Rohit Sharma smashed 76 and pace bowler Trent Boult claimed 4-26 as the Indians added further misery to Pat Cummins’ Hyderabad squad.

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But it was a moment of madness from Ishan Kishan in the opening overs that left the cricket world baffled.

Boult claimed the early wicket of Travis Head which brought Kishan to the crease, but his innings lasted only four deliveries.

A delivery from Deepak Chahar appeared to drift down the leg side with Kishan missing the clip off the pads.

But shortly after the Hyderabad batsman began to walk off with players and even the umpire confused as to what was happening.

Watch the bizarre moment in the video player above

The umpire wasn't even sure.

The bizarre moment was dissected as the match continued with replays adding even more twists to the case.

Ultraedge replays showed Kishan hadn’t come close to getting a touch on the ball.

“Why has he walked off? Now I’m even more flummoxed,” one commentator proclaimed.

Former England batter turned pundit Nick Knight described it as “totally bizarre” while Harsha Bogle wrote on X: “You think you have seen it all after all these years and yet I must admit the Ishan Kishan dismissal leaves me perplexed.”

There was no edge picked up.

Fans watching on couldn’t quite believe what they’d seen unfold with a conspiracy quickly erupting that his wicket was fixed.

One wrote: “Enquiry needed in Ishan Kishan dismissal, he seemed keen to walk off & didn’t take review. Umpire seemed keen to signal out without an appeal from bowler or Keeper. Delivery was a wide? Baffling.”

A second added: “Sad to say, but today’s match felt totally FIXED. Terrible acting by Ishan Kishan, the umpire, and some MI players. Not even trying to hide it anymore?”

A third wrote: “For the 1st time having a feeling that IPL match is Fixed. Investigation should be done on Ishan Kishan, Umpires & sure match fixing will get exposed. A black mark on IPL.”

Eventually he raised the finger up.

Hardik Pandya (R) gestures as Kishan walks off smiling. (Photo by Noah SEELAM / AFP)

Boult and Chahar continued to do damage as Hyderabad managed to forge their way to 8-143 from their 20 overs.

Five-time champions Mumbai achieved their target with 26 balls and seven wickets to spare after Rohit registered his second successive half-century, smacking eight fours and three sixes in his 46-ball knock to lead the chase.

The 35-year-old Boult set up victory with his two early wickets and was named player of the match.

It was Mumbai’s fourth straight win and a victory that propelled them three spots from sixth in the 10-team table led by Gujarat Titans.

Hyderabad, who are captained by Australia’s Pat Cummins, slumped to their sixth loss in eight matches. Cummins hinted at a move away from the all-attack mode post-game.

“We have a few away games now, it will be about assessing each wicket as quickly as possible,” said Cummins.

“Some days it will be all-out attack, some days it will be about weighing our options.”

- with AFP

Originally published as Conspiracy theory erupts after star walks despite not hitting the ball