A DRS drama, a heated debate, and a Delhi win—Rishabh Pant’s fiery night had it all!
The IPL is never short of drama. A searing knock, a game-winning spell, or a last-ball thriller—there’s always something to discuss. However, off-the-ball activity might occasionally steal the spotlight. Enter Rishabh Pant, the captain of the Delhi Capitals, who found himself amid an unexpected confrontation—not with a bowler or a fielder, but with the umpires themselves.
On a night when the Delhi Capitals (DC) finally ended their losing streak with a dominant six-wicket victory against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in 2024, the buzz around town wasn’t just about Kuldeep Yadav, Jake Fraser-McGurk, or even Pant’s explosive innings. Instead, it was a four-over-old scandal that had the cricket world abuzz.
It all began with the fourth over of LSG’s innings. Ishant Sharma delivered a wide ball down the leg side to Devdutt Padikkal, prompting the umpire to quickly stretch his arms. But wait, what is this? Rishabh Pant, standing behind the stumps, briefly conversed with his teammates before raising both hands in a ‘T’ motion. In cricket parlance, this signifies one thing: DRS.
Or does it?
The umpire accepted the signal at face value and sent it upstairs. What followed was utter mayhem.
Credit: Wisden
Pant, typically known for his cheeky grins and relaxed demeanour, suddenly turned serious. He strode over to the umpire, shaking his head and raising his hands in frustration. What was his argument? He had no intention of asking for the review. He was merely consulting his teammates and assessing the odds. Yet, in the umpire’s eyes, a ‘T’ sign indicated only one thing: Delhi had wasted one of their two precious reviews.
Credit: firstpost
Replays showed Pant making the ‘T’ gesture, but was he looking at the umpire? Or was he merely discussing the call with his teammates? The lines were blurred, as were the explanations. Even the commentators were unsure of what had transpired.
Some speculated that Pant’s genuine discontent was not with the assessment itself but with how the technology was utilised—or, in this case, not utilised. The Ultra-Edge, which detects even the slightest nicks, was not employed. Pant, clearly anxious, pointed to his ears numerous times, suggesting that he had heard something. However, the replay told a different story—there was space between the bat and the ball.
Credit: Mint
As fate would have it, Padikkal did not remain long, succumbing to Khaleel Ahmed in the subsequent over. What of the controversy? It had a longer shelf life.
With the DRS storm still fresh, Delhi seized control of the game. Kuldeep Yadav conjured his magic with a stunning 3/20, Fraser-McGurk announced his presence with a dazzling 55 on debut, and Pant himself played a crucial 41 off 24 balls.
Credit: ESPNcricinfo
Ultimately, the debate over the ‘T’ sign became just a footnote in Delhi’s triumph. However, it raised an intriguing question—should a player’s intent be considered before confirming a review? Can a ‘T’ be rescinded? The rules say no, but this incident certainly left room for debate.
