A fine or demerit points are well on the cards, especially for the Indian captain, who probably went overboard.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had an animated chat with the on-field umpires after they decided to go off due to bad light. The chat lasted for a few minutes as the Indian captain wanted to continue.
He was probably asking the umpires if he could bowl spinners, suggesting they would bring three Indian tweakers in the attack once Jasprit Bumrah completes the over. Rohit also pointed at the clouds and floodlights, suggesting there was artificial light to continue the proceedings.
Even Virat was unhappy with the decision to stop the game and joined Rohit for an intense talk with the umpires with a scowl on his face. The on-field umpire again checked the light with his light meter and concluded that it was dark enough not to resume.
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Indian players, who didn’t want to leave the field and were still near the boundary ropes, eventually had to walk off. Indeed, it was really dark and light didn’t permit resuming, even though the Indian players wanted it, for such phases are tricky to bat and the bowling team can get a few quick wickets.
The umpires were right with their assessment as a heavy storm with torrential rain broke in Bengaluru, and the groundstaff covered the entire field quickly. That means India’s plead to continue the game was futile, for they would have to leave the field a few minutes later, and at best, could have completed the first over only.
The rain ensured an early stumps was called on a day impacted by rain a couple of times. Even after the close of play was called, Rohit was seen chatting with the match referee David Boon, probably explaining why he and his teammates were arguing with the umpire in the middle.
A fine or demerit points are well on the cards, especially for the Indian captain, who probably went overboard. There was no way umpires would have allowed continuing with so many dark clouds overhead.
India will have 107 runs to defend. If they scrap a win out of this, it will be the joint-lowest score they would have defended in the fourth innings.
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