Rohit fined for dissent over wide no-call

Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma's final-over outburst in his side's IPL defeat to Pune has cost him half of his match fee.

Rohit was fined 50 per cent of his match fee for his remonstrations with the umpires after a contentious non-call for a wide delivery in the final over of Tuesday morning's clash with the Rising Pune Supergiant franchise.

The Mumbai Indians had been on a six-match winning streak that had taken them to the top of the IPL ladder and had looked set to extend their winning run with Rohit in imperious form in pursuit of 161 for victory.

The right-hander smashed the second ball of the final over for six, to leave Mumbai needing 11 to win from the final four balls. The next delivery, Rohit stepped across outside his off stump and left-armer Jaydev Unadkat followed him, delivering a slower ball well wide of the guidelines used by umpires to call wide deliveries.

Seeing the ball was wide, Rohit opted to play no shot, expecting a wide signal from umpire S Ravi. However, given the batsman had moved towards the direction of the ball, no such call was forthcoming and Rohit gesticulated wildly in his remonstrations with Ravi before umpire Nand Kishore intervened from square leg.

Rohit was sanctioned with a Level 1 breach of the IPL code of conduct for dissent by match referee Javagal Srinath.

Article 2.1.5 of the IPL's code goes into specific detail about what constitutes dissent. It includes: "(a) excessive, obvious disappointment with an umpire's decision; (b) an obvious delay in resuming play or leaving the wicket; (c) shaking the head; (d) pointing or looking at the edge of his bat when given out lbw; (e) pointing to the pad or rubbing the shoulder when caught behind; (f) snatching the cap from the Umpire; (g) requesting a referral to the TV Umpire and (h) arguing or entering into a prolonged discussion with the Umpire about his decision."

With no Decision Referral System in the IPL, the code also defends the sanctity of the axiom "the umpires' decision is final" by adding a clause that states: "It shall not be a defence to any charge brought under this Article to show that the Umpire might have, or in fact did, get any decision wrong."

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Pune opener Ajinkya Rahane defended Rohit's reaction after his side had held on for a three-run win.

"Rohit's behaviour at that point was natural," Rahane said after play.

"As a captain, as a player, when the game is so close, it comes automatically, nobody does it deliberately.

"I don't think there was anything wrong with his behaviour, but the umpire's call was right too, for us.

"In this format, in close games, this will happen in the future as well. You should respect the umpire's decision as well as whatever Rohit did that was completely natural."

Mumbai teammate Harbhajan Singh also defended Rohit from accusations he "shouted" at the umpires.

"He (Rohit) wanted to check what is the rule then, where he need to stand," said Harbhajan after play.

"He did not shout at the umpire and asked him why did he not call a wide, he was asking where should I stand so that it is called a wide."