Explained: Why Ravindra Jadeja was asked to remove tape on hand during semis-OxBig News Network

India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was seen in a discussion with on-field umpire Richard Illingworth during the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final against Australia in Dubai on Tuesday, March 4. The brief exchange occurred after the left-arm spinner was asked to remove tape from his bowling hand. India captain Rohit Sharma and former captain Virat Kohli also joined the conversation, seeking clarification from the umpire regarding the intervention.

The incident took place in the 19th over when Jadeja arrived at the bowling crease with tape on his left wrist. He was apparently experiencing some discomfort due to a niggle. However, on-field umpire Illingworth halted him and appeared to instruct him to remove the tape.

Jadeja had already bowled two overs before the intervention, but when he returned with the tape on his wrist, umpire Illingworth deemed it necessary to step in.

|India vs Australia, Champions Trophy semi-final Updates|

ICC RULES EXPLAINED

According to the International Cricket Council rules, “No fielder other than the wicket-keeper shall be permitted to wear gloves or external leg guards. In addition, protection for the hand or fingers may be worn only with the consent of the umpires.”

The umpires are allowed to take a stricter stance when bowlers are wearing tapes in their bowling hand. The rules are relaxed a bit if the bowler suffered an injury to his/her bowling arm in the same game.

Jadeja was allowed to wear the tape in the very next over. Wondering why? He hurt his hand while diving to stop a single from Steve Smith in the 19th over.

Bowlers wearing skin-coloured tape on their bowling hand might cause visibility problems for the batters in white-ball cricket.

The Chennai Super Kings star stepped up on the big stage, getting two crucial wickets in the middle-overs for India. After Varun Chakravarthy got the big wicket of Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith added 56 for the third wicket. However, Jadeja got the big wicket of Labuschagne in the 23rd over before getting Josh Inglis in the 26th over.

Jadeja varied his pace wonderfully well as he got a slider in to dismiss Labuschagne. Inglis was deceived by the pace (or the lack of it) as he chipped one straight to Virat Kohli at short cover.

However, Smith was leading the charge in the middle with a brisk fifty.