Asia Cup Rising Stars: Nehal Wadhera-Naman Dhir relay catch sparks controversy after third umpire rules ‘not out’

Nehal Wadhera and Naman Dhir’s catch during Sunday’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 match between India A and Pakistan A sparked major controversy. In the tenth over of Pakistan’s innings, Maaz Sadaqat drove a delivery from Suyash Sharma toward the ground. Wadhera picked up the ball just inside the boundary and, despite losing his balance, tossed it to Dhir before stepping over the rope. Dhir completed the catch cleanly. However, the Indian players were stunned when the third umpire declared it “not out.” India A captain Jitesh Sharma became visibly agitated and argued with the on-field umpires, as the decision left the team confused. The situation grew even more puzzling when the umpire did not signal a six despite the catch being deemed illegal.

The Marylebone Cricket Club’s (MCC) recent changes to rules regarding boundary-line catches may have influenced the not-out decision.

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According to the updated MCC guidelines, a fielder who steps outside the boundary after first touching the ball must return to the field of play before making a second contact with the ball-or before the catch is completed.

“MCC has devised a new wording where the ‘bunny hop’ wholly beyond the boundary is removed, but these catches where the fielder pushes the ball up from inside the boundary, steps outside and then dives back in to catch the ball, are permitted.”

“Our solution has been to limit any fielder who has gone outside the boundary to touching the ball while airborne only once, and then, having done so, to be wholly grounded within the boundary for the rest of the duration of that delivery.”

In relay catches, the fielder who crosses the boundary must re-enter the field before the second fielder completes the catch. The third umpire’s decision was likely based on the fact that Wadhera had not fully returned to the field when Dhir completed the catch.