Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), The franchise, co-owned by Kavya Maran, has taken an unusual step by formally approaching the BCCI during IPL 2026, seeking clarity on several controversial decisions on the field. The franchise’s concerns remain over several matches, but the latest incident involves Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Fast bowler Avesh Khan has brought this issue into sharp focus.
Avesh Khan’s ball hitting controversy
The controversy came to light during SRH’s close defeat to LSG at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday, April 5. With only one run required off the last two balls, Rishabh Pant hit a shot towards the boundary. As the ball moved towards the rope, Avesh Khan, who was near the dugout, used his bat to play it back.
off the ground! 🔥
Captain Rishabh Pant guides the chase and ends it in style@LucknowIPL +2️⃣ out of the mark in the points table
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/qC2rF1Hiiz#TATAIPL | #khelbindaas | #SRHVLSG pic.twitter.com/SEDFsub4UD
– IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) 5 April 2026
The moment immediately sparked debate. The main question was whether the ball had already touched the boundary cushion before Avesh intervened. Had that been the case, SRH could have been entitled to an extra penalty run under the rules. Fans on social media immediately highlighted potential violations, pointing to laws related to dead ball situations and unfair play.
However, the match officials took a different view. He concluded that Avesh’s action, while unorthodox, did not interfere directly with any fielder attempting to stop the boundary. Since no players were in a position to field the ball at the time, this act was not considered to have unfairly influenced the result. As a result, no penalty was awarded and the decision stood.
While the decision may have been technically correct, it clearly has not satisfied SRH, who believe the situation should be examined closely.
See also: Prince Yadav dislodges Ishan Kishan with a jaw-dropping Jaffa during SRH vs LSG game
SRH’s growing frustration: Multiple incidents
The Avesh Khan episode is not an isolated matter of concern for Sunrisers Hyderabad. The franchise has reportedly raised several issues from earlier matches, suggesting a pattern of decisions that have gone against them.
One such example happened in a game against them Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)Where Heinrich Klaasen was out near the boundary. Questions were raised over whether fielder Phil Salt made contact with the boundary cushion while completing the catch. Despite doubts the decision was upheld.
Another flashpoint came during SRH’s clash with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) when Abhishek Sharma was given out after a low catch by Varun Chakravarthy. Replays failed to provide clear evidence as to whether the ball was taken cleanly or not, sparking further debate. Abhishek’s obvious frustration at this decision resulted in the latter being fined for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct.
Individually, each of these incidents can be viewed as part of the game, where close calls are inevitable. But from SRH’s point of view, the accumulation of such moments has raised concerns about consistency and clarity in decision-making.
The franchise understands that the outcome of the match is unlikely to be overturned. However, his request to the BCCI is about demanding transparency and ensuring that similar situations are handled more clearly in the future.
At this stage of the tournament, SRH’s campaign has remained quite balanced. With one win and two losses in their opening matches, they are still very competitive. However, such controversies can affect team morale, especially when players feel that decisions are not going their way.
Looking ahead, SRH will hope to again focus their attention on on-field performances as they prepare to face Punjab Kings (PBKS) On 11 April. Also, his appeal to the BCCI could play a crucial role in deciding how similar incidents will be interpreted going forward.
