India A skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad slammed Ranji Trophy umpires and the Services team after his state team Maharashtra was on the wrong side of a controversial decision on Thursday.
Ruturaj, currently away on India A duties as captain on the two-match First Class tour in Australia questioned the umpires and opposition after Maharashtra’s stand-in captain Ankit Bawane was deemed caught to a questionable catch.
Batting in response to Services’ first-innings 293, Maharashtra slipped to 63 for three before captain Bawane waged a lone battle with his 73-run knock. Bawane was dismissed by left-arm spinner Amit Kumar caught by SG Rohilla at second slip.
However, the ball appeared to have lobbed up to the fielder off the ground from Bawane’s outside edge on replays. The wicket-keeper and the slip fielders immediately broke into a celebration as Bawane stood pointing at the bumped ball at the crease. On-field umpires Nikhil Menon and P Jayapal in consultation with match referee Amit Sharma soon adjudged Bawane out caught.
The decision even left the commentators stumped. “I think it fell short at first glance. The ball has lobbed earlier and then it has gone into the hands of the fielders,” one of the commentators was heard saying while the replays were shown.
Bawane was displeased with the decision after the ball appeared to bump before the fielder. (JioCinema screengrabs)
“If the umpires have given it out, the decision will stand. This is not a good sight to watch,” the commentator added as Bawane trudged back to the pavillion.
Ruturaj blasts umpires, Services
The decision left Ruturaj fuming, who took to Instagram to express his displeasure against the umpires and the opposition. Incidentally, the Maharashtra-Serivces clash is one of three matches being telecast and live-streamed in the fourth round of the tournament.
“How can this be given out in a live game? Shame to even appeal for a catch. Absolutely pathetic,” Gaikwad wrote on his Instagram story.
Services spinner Kumar later went onto complete a seven-wicket haul as Services secured a 110-run first-innings lead over Maharashtra.
Ruturaj is Maharashtra’s designated captain while not away on national commitments. The Chennai Super Kings captain had featured in the first two rounds of the Ranji Trophy in October, scoring 86, 0 and 145 in three innings.
Earlier, Gaikwad was not considered for India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad, with Bengal opener Abhimanyu Easwaran taking his spot in the side. The right-handed batter was also snubbed from India’s T20I tour to South Africa.
Reacting to his teammate’s India snub, Maharashtra cricketer Azim Kazi criticised the BCCI’s decision on a social media post.
“BCCI played a great prank on Ruturaj Gaikwad since last 3 months. Kept him away from T20 and ODIs and made him play Duleep trophy, Irani Cup, Ranji Trophy in order to take him for BGT but suddenly Easwaran come, sidelining him. Harsh words but seems reality now,” Kazi wrote on X.
The 27-year-old Gaikwad has had a poor series in Australia so far, registering three-single digit scores (0, 5 and 4).
