NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant’s animated presence behind the stumps once again took centre stage during Day 5 of the opening Test at Headingley Stadium in Leeds on Tuesday.During Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling spell, Pant was caught on the stump mic delivering one of his trademark quips: “Mera hi game, mera hi ball, mera hi umpire, mera hi field aur fielding bhi mai hi karunga. Jaddu bhai, kya baat hai.” The moment quickly went viral, drawing laughs and adding to Pant’s growing reputation as one of the liveliest characters in world cricket.
However, Pant’s energy also landed him in trouble. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially reprimanded the Indian wicketkeeper-batter for showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during England’s first innings at Headingley.Pant was found to have breached Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel — relating to dissent shown at an umpire’s decision. As a result, a demerit point has been added to his disciplinary record. This marks Pant’s first offence within a 24-month period.The incident occurred in the 61st over of England’s innings, with Harry Brook and Ben Stokes at the crease. Pant reportedly raised concerns about the condition of the ball and asked the umpires for a replacement. When the officials checked the ball with the gauge and refused to make a change, Pant threw the ball to the ground in visible disagreement, an act that triggered the charge.
The complaint was made by the match officials — on-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Paul Reiffel, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, and fourth umpire Mike Burns. The matter was resolved without the need for a formal hearing after Pant admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees.According to ICC regulations, Level 1 breaches can result in an official reprimand, a fine of up to 50% of the player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.Despite the reprimand, Pant had a remarkable game with the bat — scoring centuries in both innings and playing a vital role in India’s strong showing in the Test match.As the match reached its final day, England were left needing 350 runs to win with all ten wickets intact, setting the stage for a thrilling finish to the first Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
