A frightening incident occurred on the field during a Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2026 match. A fast-moving ball struck umpire Dharmesh Bhardwaj in the face; it arrived with such speed that he had no time to react or protect himself. Chaos ensued on the field following the incident, and the medical team rushed to his aid. According to media reports, Bhardwaj was taken to the hospital after the injury and placed under observation in the ICU.
How did the accident happen
This incident occurred during a DPL match played at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium on August 17, 2026, featuring a contest between the East Delhi Riders and the New Delhi Tigers. In the 18th over of the New Delhi Tigers' innings, batsman Lakshya Thareja hit a powerful straight drive off a delivery from bowler Ashish Meena. The ball traveled at such high speed that it headed straight towards umpire Dharmesh Bhardwaj.
The umpire attempted to dodge the ball but could not completely get out of its path. It struck the right side of his face, just below the jaw. He appeared to be in pain following the impact, and play had to be halted immediately.
Video of umpire getting hit by the ball goes viral
A video of this incident is rapidly going viral on social media. The footage shows a ball, struck powerfully by the batsman, hitting the umpire in the face. Immediately after the impact, the batsman and nearby players are seen reacting to the situation. Following the emergence of the video, cricket fans have expressed concern regarding umpire safety. This incident once again highlights how the high-speed shots played in T20 cricket have increased the risks faced by umpires on the field.
This was not the first time in the DPL 2026 that Dharmesh Bhardwaj was struck by the ball. Previously, during a match, he had sustained a shoulder injury from a straight drive. This time, the ball hit him near the face, making the situation much more serious.
What was the result of the match?
East Delhi Riders won the match by 36 runs. Batting first, the East Delhi team scored 192 for 7 in 20 overs. In reply, while chasing the target, the New Delhi Tigers were bowled out for 156 in 19.2 overs. Prior to this match, East Delhi Riders had suffered six consecutive defeats, with one match ending in a no-result due to rain. The team now has 3 points from 7 matches, including one win. Qualification appears difficult for the team from this stage.
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