The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has clarified the ‘Obstructing the Field’ law following the dismissal of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi during an IPL 2026 match against Lucknow Super Giants. Raghuvanshi was given out after a throw hit him while he was attempting to return to the striker’s end, sparking a debate on the decision. The MCC emphasized that a batter can only be out if there is a deliberate attempt to obstruct or distract the fielding side.
The MCC referred to Law 37.1.1, stating that a batter is out Obstructing the Field if they ‘wilfully attempt to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action.’ The governing body highlighted the importance of determining deliberate obstruction, which can be challenging. The MCC also pointed to its official guidelines, which address scenarios where a batter changes direction while running between the wickets.
According to the MCC, a batter changing direction during running, especially to run on the pitch or taking a non-optimal route, constitutes a wilful act. In the case of Raghuvanshi, the MCC explained that his movement across the pitch influenced the decision. The MCC clarified that factors like whether the batter would have completed the run safely without the throw hitting him are irrelevant under the law. The focus remains on deliberate obstruction, not the likelihood of a dismissal.
