Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli argument with Umpires : On the fourth day of the Test match in Bengaluru, Team India made a remarkable comeback in their second innings, eliminating New Zealand’s 356-run lead. However, before the day’s play could finish, the Indian team found itself in a challenging situation. Just when momentum seemed to be shifting in their favor, play was unexpectedly halted.
India is now at risk of losing this Test match. After being bowled out for just 46 runs in their first innings against New Zealand, India made a strong recovery in the second innings but still couldn’t set a significant target. Adding to their woes, the fourth day’s play was cut short about an hour early due to rain. Just before this, Indian captain Rohit Sharma and former captain Virat Kohli got into a heated discussion with the umpires. So, what exactly happened, and was it right for Rohit Sharma to argue with the officials?
What happened during the Bengaluru Test?
On Saturday, 19th October, the fourth day of the match at Chinnaswamy Stadium, India’s second innings ended at 462 runs, setting New Zealand a target of 107 runs. With about an hour of play remaining, New Zealand began their second innings. At this time, dark clouds gathered over the stadium, which was a positive sign for India as it could assist Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj in getting some swing.
However, after just 4 deliveries from Bumrah, the umpires decided to stop play due to bad light. Although all four floodlights were switched on, the light continued to deteriorate. The umpires checked the light with a meter and made the decision to halt the game. New Zealand’s openers quickly returned to the pavilion, which was a relief for them, but the Indian team was not happy with this call. Captain Rohit Sharma then started arguing with umpires Paul Reiffel and Michael Gough.
Heated argument between Virat and Rohit
Rohit questioned why the game was stopped without even completing an over. He possibly suggested to the umpires that India could switch to spinners. During this exchange, Rohit appeared quite frustrated, and shortly Virat Kohli stepped in to make his own arguments. The entire Indian team surrounded the two umpires, but the officials stood firm on their decision. Although India remained on the field for a short while, heavy rain soon followed in Bengaluru, forcing the ground to be covered.
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Were the umpires wrong in their decision?
The downpour was so intense that any hope of resuming play disappeared, and stumps were called for the day. Now, the question arises—was it appropriate for the Indian captain to argue with the umpires? The answer is no. According to the rules, when light fades during a Test match, the umpires use a light meter to take a reading. If that reading suggests the play should be stopped, the same reading is used for subsequent days of the match.
On the second day of the Bengaluru Test, the match was stopped 10 minutes early due to poor light, and the same reading was applied on the fourth day. Therefore, the umpires were following the rules. However, this argument may lead to fines being imposed on both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.