Rishabh Pant Faces Criticism Over Captaincy Decisions in IPL Final
Controversial Decisions in IPL Final
The concluding match of the Indian Premier League, featuring Lucknow Super Giants against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has sparked significant debate regarding Rishabh Pant's leadership. While Pant received praise for his impressive comeback century, he faced backlash for his decision to retract Digvesh Rathi's Mankad appeal against Jitesh Sharma. Jitesh had already evaded two potential dismissals, including a run-out and a no-ball situation, before the Mankad attempt occurred. After the umpires ruled Jitesh 'not out,' Rishabh chose to withdraw the appeal, leading to a heartwarming moment as Jitesh embraced him. However, this act drew criticism from fans and former players who questioned Pant's responsibilities as captain, suggesting he should have supported his teammates more decisively.
Ashwin's Perspective on Pant's Captaincy
In a recent discussion with a prominent sports journalist, former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin echoed these sentiments. He expressed concern that Rishabh's actions could have lasting repercussions for Digvesh, potentially impacting his future in the game. Ashwin remarked,
"Mayank was on strike. 8 runs needed in 2 balls. And Jitesh Sharma moved out. Mayank Agarwal completed two runs. He hit a six in the last over. This might be Digvesh Rathi’s last game. Let’s understand one thing — Digvesh Rathi is not my relative, not my friend; I don’t know him. I don’t know who he is. But I’m saying, if you scare a bowler so much by doing something like this, it will really affect him. But since nobody really cared about a bowler, his appeal was withdrawn in front of millions of people, and the appeal was insulted."
Further Insights from Ashwin
Discussing Rishabh's decision-making, Ashwin added,
"But the point is, whether the captain wants to withdraw the appeal or not, let’s talk about cricket for a second: according to the laws of the game, it went upstairs (to the review system), the umpire said 'not out,' so it’s not out. There was no point of withdrawal of the appeal here."
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Rathi's Performance This Season
It is worth noting that Rathi has taken 14 wickets this season, making him the leading uncapped bowler. He has maintained a commendable economy rate just above 8, with an average of 30.64.