Rishabh Pant made his highly anticipated return to Test cricket after a long gap of 619 days. The last time he played in a Test match was back in December 2022, coincidentally against Bangladesh. As he returned to the field for the Chennai Test, Pant’s performance was commendable as he helped stabilize the Indian innings. However, an unexpected incident occurred on the second day of the match, forcing Pant to apologize to his teammate, Mohammad Siraj, during the live game.
The Controversial LBW Appeal and Pant’s Decision
The moment unfolded early in Bangladesh’s innings on Day 2, Friday, September 20. The Indian fast bowler Mohammad Siraj was bowling his fourth over when an appeal for LBW against Bangladesh’s Zakir Hasan was made on the fifth ball. The appeal seemed quite strong, and Siraj was confident that the batsman was out. He, along with the rest of Team India, celebrated in anticipation of the wicket. However, the umpire didn’t raise his finger, much to Siraj’s and the team’s surprise.
With the umpire’s decision standing, Team India had the option of using the DRS (Decision Review System) to challenge the decision. Siraj was eager to push for the review, and he tried to convince the captain, Rohit Sharma, to go ahead with it. However, Pant, who was behind the stumps, advised against it. Pant suggested that the ball was likely heading down the leg side and that a review would only be wasted. Trusting Pant’s judgment, Rohit decided not to take the review.
The Replay and Pant’s Realization
A few moments later, the big screen in the stadium showed the replay of the delivery, and it became evident that the ball would have hit the leg stump. Had India gone for the review, Zakir Hasan would have been given out. Siraj, seeing the replay, immediately drew Pant’s attention to the error.
Pant, realizing his mistake, quickly acknowledged the situation. According to a report by ESPN-Cricinfo, Pant apologized to Siraj from a distance on the field after seeing the replays. It was an unusual and candid moment during the match, showing the level of trust between teammates, even in the face of on-field errors.
Zakir Hasan’s Dismissal and India’s Bowling Response
Despite the missed opportunity, Zakir Hasan did not last long at the crease. Just a few overs later, Akash Deep managed to dismiss him, bringing relief to the Indian side. Meanwhile, the rest of the Indian bowling attack continued to keep Bangladesh under pressure.
India’s First-Innings Performance
Earlier in the day, India’s batting had its ups and downs. They were bowled out for 376 runs, adding only 37 runs to their overnight score in the first session. Ravichandran Ashwin, who played a key role in the innings, was dismissed after scoring 112 runs, while Ravindra Jadeja missed out on his fifth Test century, getting out for 86. For Bangladesh, Hasan Mahmud was the star bowler, taking 5 wickets and helping restrict India’s lead.
