The excitement of a Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2026 match turned into a terrifying incident when umpire Dharmesh Bhardwaj was struck on the face by a high-speed ball. Bhardwaj had no time to react to a powerful straight drive played by New Delhi Tigers batter Lakshya Thareja. The ball hit the right side of his face, causing him to collapse on the field. Following the severe injury, he was taken to the hospital, where reports indicate he has been admitted to the ICU.
Umpire Struck by Lakshya Thareja’s Shot
The incident occurred during a match between the East Delhi Riders and the New Delhi Tigers. It was the 18th over of the New Delhi Tigers’ innings. Spinner Ashish Meena delivered the ball, and Lakshya Thareja hit it straight back with full force. The ball returned so rapidly that neither the bowler, Meena, nor the umpire, Bhardwaj, had a chance to react. Standing directly behind the bowler, the umpire could not move out of the ball’s path, and it struck him in the face. He fell to the ground immediately upon impact. Players on the field rushed to his aid, and Lakshya Thareja, who had played the shot, appeared visibly distressed by the incident. The on-field medical team provided immediate first aid. Given the severity of the situation, he was taken to the hospital for further examination. Reports state that Bhardwaj has been admitted to the ICU.
Struck by the Ball for the Second Time
Most concerning is the fact that this is the second time this season Bhardwaj has been hit by the ball; he had previously been struck on the shoulder during another match. A video of this latest incident—showing the ball hitting him directly in the face—has surfaced on social media, raising questions about umpire safety on the field. As for the match itself, the East Delhi Riders defeated the New Delhi Tigers by 36 runs, but the result was overshadowed by the umpire’s injury. Batting first, the Riders posted a score of 192/7 in 20 overs. Mayank Rawat played an innings of 40 runs off 23 balls, while Vansh Mehra (35), Arpit Rana (33), and Suryansh Raina (33) also made significant contributions. Chasing a target of 193, the New Delhi Tigers were bowled out for 156. Although captain Himmat Singh and Lakshya Thareja shared a 48-run partnership, they could not steer the team to victory. For East Delhi Riders, Ashish Meena claimed 3/32 and Mayank Yadav took 2/9.
