Explained: Why Shanaka was not out during the India vs Sri Lanka Super Over?

In a strange incident, during the super over of the Super Four contest of the Asia Cup 2025, Dasun Shanaka, the Sri Lankan all-rounder, was not given out despite being clearly run out by Sanju Samson at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Friday.

Why was Shanaka not out?

In the super over, bowled by Arshdeep Singh, the left-arm pacer had taken a wicket in the first ball of the over. He then bowled one dot ball and a wide before bowling the fourth ball, which saw something strange happen.

Arshdeep bowled a wide yorker, which Shanaka missed completely, and the ball went straight to Sanju Samson. Shanaka and Kamindu Mendis tried to sneak in a single, but Sanju was cautious and ready to throw the ball.

Sanju rolled the ball towards the stumps, and it hit the stumps, and Shanaka was clearly run out. But before the square leg umpire could rule him out, Arshdeep appealed for a catch.

The umpire at bowler’s end, Izatullah Safi, ruled Shanaka caught behind before the square leg umpire could rule him run out. Shanaka took a review for the catch-out, and the replay showcased that Shanaka had nicked the ball and was ruled not out by the TV umpire, Masudur Rahman.

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Now, as per the rule, the ball was declared dead once the umpire at the bowler’s end declared him out. Now, even if the square leg umpire had given him out, it would not have counted. So, the caught behind stayed as the way of dismissal, and since Shanaka won the DRS decision, he remained not out.

If Arshdeep had not appealed for the caught behind and Izatullah Safi had not waited till the leg umpire’s decision or had not given him out, Shanaka would have been run out in the Super Over.

However, Shanaka was caught at deep third-man in the next ball, and India chased down the 3 runs in the first ball of their super over innings.