"Bat Nahi Laga": Smriti Mandhana Left Stunned by Controversial DRS Dismissal in Women's World Cup Semifinal

India's star batter Smriti Mandhana was left visibly shell-shocked and left shaking her head in disbelief after being given out caught behind against Australia in the Women's World Cup 2025 semifinal, following a highly controversial DRS decision that showed the faintest of spikes on UltraEdge technology. The dismissal, which came in the final over of the powerplay at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, became one of the talking points of the match as Mandhana repeatedly told teammate Jemimah Rodrigues "bat nahi laga" (the ball didn't touch my bat) before reluctantly walking back to the pavilion.

The Controversial Moment

The drama unfolded in the second ball of the 10th over when pacer Kim Garth bowled a delivery wide down the leg side. The on-field umpire Sue Redfern immediately signaled it as a wide, and there appeared to be no contact between bat and ball. Mandhana, still at the crease, seemed calm and unfazed by the delivery, having clearly missed it.

However, Australia captain Alyssa Healy, displaying brilliant captaincy instincts despite her own uncertainty, decided to challenge the on-field umpire's decision with just seconds remaining on the DRS timer. This gambit would prove to be the turning point of the chase.

The UltraEdge Moment

As the replay was being analyzed, Mandhana stood at the crease with Jemimah Rodrigues, both visibly confident that there had been no edge. Mandhana repeatedly shook her head, almost as if to reassure her partner and herself that the decision would go in her favor.

But then came the shock.

The UltraEdge technology, which had been loaded after a few moments of delay, showed a spike—albeit an extremely faint one—as the Kookaburra passed Mandhana's willow. The third umpire's decision was swift: out caught behind.

An Emotional Response

Mandhana's immediate reaction was one of pure disbelief. Her expression morphed from confidence to stunned bewilderment in seconds. She shook her head vigorously, her face breaking into laughter born of sheer frustration and incredulity. The left-hander continued to insist "bat nahi laga" even as she made her way back to the pavilion, making it clear to both the umpire and her teammates that she remained unconvinced of the decision.

Even the on-field umpire Lauren Agenbag appeared to acknowledge the unusual nature of the dismissal, with replays showing her shrugging her shoulders as if to indicate the extreme fineness of the edge.

The Cricket Fraternity Responds

The incident sparked debate across social media and among cricket experts. While some acknowledged that DRS technology is designed to catch even the finest of edges, others questioned whether such marginal contacts should result in dismissals, particularly in high-pressure knockout matches where even single runs matter enormously.

The Bigger Picture

Mandhana's dismissal came at a crucial juncture in India's chase. At 59/2, with both openers dismissed cheaply, India faced the prospect of early failure in their pursuit of 339. However, despite her early exit, Mandhana's contribution to the tournament had been remarkable.

Prior to this match, she had amassed 389 runs from eight matches at an average of 55.57 and a strike rate of 102.36—the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament. Her form had been consistently strong, with an 80-run knock against Australia in Vizag earlier in the competition and a 14th ODI century against New Zealand, moving her ever closer to Meg Lanning's record of 15 Women's ODI centuries.

Turning Point or Turning Blessing? While Mandhana's dismissal appeared to be a potential turning point against India, the narrative eventually turned in India's favor. Jemimah Rodrigues went on to score an unbeaten 127, partnering with captain Harmanpreet Kaur's 89 to orchestrate India's record chase of 339. In retrospect, Mandhana's early exit allowed the duo to take center stage and deliver India to the World Cup final.

Context: Australia's Contentious Dismissals Interestingly, the decision also reflected the broader pattern of controversial DRS calls in the match. Phoebe Litchfield had benefited from a similar marginal call earlier when she was incorrectly given out off a reverse sweep, only to be recalled when replays showed the ball had bounced before reaching the fielder. This suggested that both teams experienced moments where technology played a deciding role in high-pressure situations.

The Broader DRS Debate

Mandhana's dismissal reignited conversations about the role of technology in cricket. While DRS (Umpire's Call) was introduced to overturn howlers and provide a safety net against egregious errors, instances like this—where the faintest of touches are enough to overturn an umpire's decision—raise questions about whether the technology has become too sensitive in certain situations, particularly in women's cricket where the ball dynamics might be slightly different.

Aftermath and Resilience

Despite the injustice Mandhana felt regarding her dismissal, she would have the satisfaction of seeing India emerge victorious. As the team stormed to the final against South Africa, Mandhana could reflect that while she didn't get to contribute significantly to the chase, her consistent performance throughout the tournament had positioned India as genuine contenders for the title.