Much was said about the competence of umpire Gayathri Venugopalan. She was heavily criticised on social media for some of her decisions, with many claiming her errors cost Mumbai their opening match against Delhi. The main debate was whether a batter should be given out the moment the stumps were illuminated or only when the bails were completely dislodged.
Now, the WPL authorities have clarified the ruling, and it turns out Gayathri was indeed correct. She followed the directive issued by the BCCI and match officials, which stated that a batter could only be given out when the bails were fully dislodged. Initially, it was believed that the first frame showing the lights coming on was decisive. However, it has since emerged that the bails used in the tournament light up easily, sometimes even when they remain firmly in the grooves. To ensure batters were not unfairly dismissed, the BCCI instructed TV umpires on the morning of the DC vs MI match to strictly follow this guideline. Gayathri adhered to the rule precisely, making the correct decision based on the protocol given to her.
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An umpire’s job is often thankless. They are rarely praised for correct decisions but face intense scrutiny for any perceived errors. Only a handful, like Simon Taufel, have built a reputation as elite officials. When millions are watching and analysing every move, the pressure to be flawless is immense. Gayathri, like any umpire, was under pressure, but she remained calm and displayed commendable composure. Even amid social media backlash, she stayed resolute.
This incident will likely make her stronger. Having endured the storm of online criticism, she will emerge more resilient and self-assured. She now knows that social media outrage does not define her performance—her ability to back herself in crucial moments does. If anything, this experience could shape her into one of the finest umpires in the game.
The authorities should have clarified the rule that night itself to prevent unwarranted abuse. Being labelled “incompetent” despite following the rules to the letter cannot be easy. However, all’s well that ends well, and Gayathri will come out of this as a more confident umpire. In fact, she is already among the better officials in the WPL and could well make a name for herself in the years to come. If that happens, she might look back on this controversy as the turning point of her career. After all, every adversity has a silver lining.
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