Harsha Bhogle hits back at English media over Deepti Sharma run out controversy

Charlotte Dean’s run-out in the third and final ODI between England Women and India Women at Lord’s on Saturday, September 24, continues to spark debates among cricket experts and fans. India all-rounder Deepti Sharma ran Dean out for backing up at the non-striker’s end, completing India’s 16-run win after a resolute last-wicket stand.

The mode of dismissal has been largely criticised, with the “spirit of cricket” debates raging on. With a majority of present and former England cricketers, including England Women skipper Heather Knight, being critical of Dean's runout, Harsha Bhogle expressed his view on the subject in a gripping Twitter thread.

Bhogle, a renowned broadcaster and journalist, stated that “it is a cultural thing”.

“I find it very disturbing that a very large section of the media in England is asking questions of a girl who played by the laws of the game & none at all of another who was gaining an illegal advantage and was a habitual offender. That includes reasonable people and I think it is a cultural thing,” tweeted Bhogle.

“The English thought it was wrong to do so & because they ruled over a large part of the cricket world, they told everyone it was wrong. The colonial domination was so powerful that few questioned it. As a result, the mindset still is that what England considers wrong should be considered wrong by the rest of the cricket world, much like the "line" the Aussies say you must not cross having decided what the line should be which is fine in their culture but may not be for others. 

“The rest of the world is no longer obligated to think the way England does and so we see what is so plainly wrong. So too is the notion that turning tracks are bad but seaming tracks are fine. The reason I say it is cultural is that it is what they are brought up to think. They don't think it is wrong. The problem arises and we are guilty of it too, when people sit in judgement of each other's approach.”

I find it very disturbing that a very large section of the media in England is asking questions of a girl who played by the laws of the game & none at all of another who was gaining an illegal advantage and was a habitual offender. That includes reasonable people & I think (1/n)

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 30, 2022

Bhogle further reiterated that the game should be played within its laws, and that would avoid all the subjectivity and opinions surrounding the spirit of cricket, while asking for the criticism over Deepti’s act be stopped.

“England wants the rest of the world not to like running out batters at the non-striker's end and have been vitriolic and abusive towards Deepti and others who have done it. We come hard too, asking others to wake up from centuries old colonial slumber. The easiest thing is to play by the laws of the game & stop worrying about subjective interpretation of the spirit of the game,stop forcing opinions on others.The law says the non-striker must be behind the crease till the bowler's arm is at its highest point. If you obey that, the game will move along smoothly. If you point fingers at others, like many in England have at Deepti, you remain open to questions asked of you. 

“It is best if those in power, or who were in power, stop believing that the world must move at their bidding. As in society, where judges implement the law of the land, so too in cricket. But I remain disturbed by the vitriol directed towards Deepti. She played by the laws of the game and criticism of what she did must stop.”