Rishabh Pant is known for his playful personality and is frequently seen having a good time behind the stumps, much to his teammates’ amusement. He displayed quick thinking with a humorous remark after a delivery from Ravichandran Ashwin struck the pads and then the helmet.
The event occurred on Day 1 of the two-match Test series in Kanpur on September 27th when Bangladesh was batting and it was the 33rd over (Friday). Ashwin hurled a full-length ball that struck the batsman’s helmets, which appeared to be in line with the stumps. This made Pant to react:
“Ye acha hai, Helmet se bhi LBW le sakte hain (This one is better, can appeal for LBW if it hits the helmets.)”
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Commentator and former Team India captain Sunil Gavaskar could not stop his laughter due to the sly answer given by Rishabh Pant behind the stumps.
To those unfamiliar with the rules of cricket, LBW or Leg Before Wicket does not mean that the ball must directly connect with the pads. Even if the ball brushes the arm, shoulder or the chest, LBW can still be called and the batter can be given out by the umpire. However, when the batsman’s hands are on the bat and the ball, although hitting the hands, is blocked, LBW cannot be given.
What does the LBW rule state?
As per rule 36.1 of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC):
“The striker is out LBW if all the circumstances set out in the bowler delivers a ball, not being a no-ball but for the interception, the ball would have hit the wicket.”
Rishabh Pant returns to the top 10 in the ICC Test rankings following his comeback after 18 months
In his return to the format after a hiatus in December 2022, Rishabh Pant has once again made the cut into the top ten ICC rankings for batters. The left-handed batsman scored 39 and 109 in the first Test match against Bangladesh in Chennai. He missed 15 months due to the injuries from the car accident, which happened in December 2022; however, he returned to competitive cricket in March this year.
This was his sixth Test century, tying him with former India captain MS Dhoni. The 26-year-old is currently placed at the sixth position on the ICC Test rankings. Pant remains crucial for the team India’s success in the pending Test series against New Zealand and Australia.
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