Team India was punished five runs on the second morning of the third Test against England in Rajkot. The punishment was imposed because the team failed to follow the MCC’s ‘Unfair Play Law’.
The event occurred during the 102nd over of the Indian innings, with rookie Dhruv Jurel and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin at the crease. The latter played a full delivery from Rehan Ahmed to the cover region before settling for a single.
However, Jurel ordered him back, and Ashwin ended up racing across the middle of the pitch. The umpire, Joel Wilson, spoke with the seasoned player before indicating five penalty runs.
Team India had previously been warned on Day 1, with Ravindra Jadeja being the perpetrator, and the second incident resulted in a five-run punishment for the opposition team.
According to Law 41.14 of the MCC playing regulations:
“It is unfair to cause deliberate or avoidable damage to the pitch. If the striker enters the protected area in playing or playing at the ball, he/she must move from it immediately thereafter. A batter will be deemed to be causing avoidable damage if either umpire considers that his/her presence on the pitch is without reasonable cause.”
“If either batter causes deliberate or avoidable damage to the pitch, other than as in 41.15, at the first instance the umpire seeing the contravention shall, when the ball is dead, inform the other umpire of the occurrence. The bowler’s end umpire shall then warn both batters that the practice is unfair and indicate that this is a first and final warning. This warning shall apply throughout the innings.”
“If there is any further instance of deliberate or avoidable damage to the pitch by any batter in that innings, the umpire seeing the contravention shall, when the ball is dead, inform the other umpire of the occurrence. The bowler’s end umpire shall disallow all runs to the batting side, return any not out batter to his/her original end signal No ball or Wide to the scorers if applicable. award 5 Penalty runs to the fielding side.”
Thus, the on-air pundits verified that England’s first innings would begin at 5/0.
India bounce back after losing early wickets on Day 2
In the Test match, Team India built on their first innings despite early losses on Day 2.
Led by the brilliance of Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, and Sarfaraz Khan, they concluded Day 1 on a strong 326/5 despite falling to 33/3 at one point. However, James Anderson dismissed Night Watchman Kuldeep Yadav in the fourth over of the second day.
Joe Root then dismissed Ravindra Jadeja for 112, leaving India at 331/7.
However, youngster Dhruv Jurel and seasoned Ravichandran Ashwin had resolved matters with an unbroken partnership of 38. The hosts are on track to reach 400 runs, with 373/7 in 108 overs.