High drama unfolded at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy ground on Friday as Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane was initially given out for obstructing the field.
The incident happened on the last delivery before Tea was called during Mumbai’s last Ranji Trophy group fixture against Assam. However, Assam later withdrew the appeal soon, and Rahane returned to the crease after the break. Rahane could survive just 18 balls post Tea and add four runs to his tally before being cleaned up by Dibakar Johori for 22.
After restricting Assam to 84 in the first innings, Mumbai lost three quick wickets and the onus was on Rahane and Shivam Dube to bring the team out of the woods. After a string of low scores, Rahane looked in rhythm and was batting on 18 when he hit a straight drive and called Dube for a single only to be sent back. As Rahane was scampering back, he got in the way of the throw from the mid-on fielder Denish Das. The Assam team appealed and Rahane was given the marching order.
There was a twist in the tale as Assam withdrew the appeal, allowing Rahane to take the field again. According to the rule, an appeal for obstructing the field could be withdrawn before the next ball is bowled.
Though Rahane and members from the Assam team remained silent on the issue, Shardul Thakur revealed that it was Assam coach Trevor Gonsalves, who walked up to the opponent dressing room to offer apology and withdraw the appeal. “We don’t know what exactly the rule is. We were replaying the video and all we saw was that he was running in the straight line. At no point did he change his direction. The only direction that was changed was only when he took that turn and he wasn’t trying to obstruct the field. The umpires felt that he could be given out since the throw was aimed at stumps,” Shardul said after the day’s play.
“Assam coach also saw the video, and he did not feel that Rahane had done it purposely. So, they wanted to withdraw the appeal. Since it was Tea, they could not convey it immediately. Their coach walked up to us and apologized for the appeal, which he felt was done at the heat of the moment. They conveyed it to the umpires also and it was mutually agreed that Rahane will go on to bat,” Shardul said.
‘Fair and true to the spirit of the game’
However, Rahane was not keen to pad up and take the field again. This was for the first time in his 16-year professional career that he was given out for obstructing the field and the seasoned campaigner was yet to come to terms with it.
It needed a little bit of convincing from coach Omkar Salvi, Prithvi Shaw and Shardul before Rahane rushed to the change room and got ready to take the crease again. “Ajinkya was not keen on going back again since he was given out. But we convinced him that if it’s not out then he should go out and bat for the best interest of the team. His ethics doesn’t allow him to do that, but for the team, it was needed that he went back and batted,” Shardul said.
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