"Is Umpire Favoring Mumbai Indians?" Fans Cry Foul Over Ishan Kishan Dismissal in SRH vs MI Clash

With IPL 2025 now halfway through, a cloud of controversy has settled over the tournament following the bizarre dismissal of Ishan Kishan during the high-voltage match between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians (MI). Social media erupted in outrage after umpire Vinod Seshan gave Kishan out without any appeal from the fielding side—only for replays and snicko meter to later suggest the delivery didn’t touch his bat and should’ve been called a wide.

This incident has intensified suspicions among fans, who are now questioning the neutrality of umpire Seshan, alleging a pattern of questionable decisions consistently benefiting Mumbai Indians.

Three Controversial Decisions Under the Scanner

According to fans, here are the three contentious calls involving umpire Vinod Seshan that have triggered fixing allegations:

MI vs RCB:
An LBW decision wrongly went against a Royal Challengers Bangalore batter even though the ball pitched outside off stump. The DRS overturned the call, but fans questioned why it was given out in the first place.

MI vs DC:
In this game, Rohit Sharma survived an LBW appeal despite the ball pitching in line and impacting in line. KL Rahul, the Delhi captain, reviewed and the call was overturned. Again, Seshan was the on-field umpire.

MI vs SRH (Ishan Kishan Incident):
Perhaps the most shocking of the three. Kishan walked off without appeal, and Seshan signaled out despite the ball not touching bat or pad, and it being clearly wide.

Social Media Erupts with Allegations

Fans have now started joining the dots, pointing out that Seshan has umpired 5 of MI's 9 games this season, questioning whether that’s just a coincidence or something more.

“It is suspicious, how all these 3 decisions went in MI’s favor & the common link is umpire VINOD SESHAN,” wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter).

“Vinod Seshan is a fixer. Sack him from umpiring ASAP,” another tweet read.

The hashtags #MIvsSRH, #VinodSeshan, and #Fixing quickly began trending, with several users demanding the BCCI and IPL governing council take notice.

Fixing Allegations Against Ishan Kishan Too?

Adding fuel to the fire, some fans even questioned Ishan Kishan's role, pointing out that he was a part of the Mumbai Indians squad for seven years before being released. Conspiracy theorists have gone as far as to suggest his return to the pavilion without protest could indicate an ulterior motive to favor his former team.

No Official Comment Yet from BCCI or IPL

As of now, the BCCI and IPL authorities have not released any official statement regarding these accusations. However, the mounting criticism and public outrage might soon compel them to review the matter.

Final Word

While fans' frustration is understandable—especially in a tournament where every run and decision counts—allegations of fixing or bias are serious and should be backed by solid evidence. Until the official bodies respond, these remain public perceptions, albeit ones that the IPL may no longer be able to ignore.