Shubman Gill, India’s upcoming batting star, was embroiled in controversy due to his refusal to walk after wrongly being given out, allegedly confronting the on-field umpire which stalled play for over ten minutes.
The incident occurred on the first day of the Ranji Trophy game between Gill’s side, Punjab, and Delhi, at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. Opening the batting, Gill seemingly edged one off medium-pacer Subodh Bhati to Anuj Rawat in the 10th over, but stayed rooted to his crease, despite being given out by the on-field umpire, Mohamad Rafi.
Rafi, officiating his first game, then had a word with the leg-umpire, Paschim Pathak, before overturning his decision. However, it wasn’t until the match referee intervened, that the match restarted, 10 minutes later.
Together through the highs and lows🤙🏽 Always a great feeling playing for Team Punjab 🦁 pic.twitter.com/DkkSQWGEx8
— Shubman Gill (@ShubmanGill) November 28, 2019
Reportedly, the 20-year-old Gill, seething at the incorrect decision, confronted the on-field umpire and directed his frustration at him. According to Cricbuzz, Delhi captain Nitish Rana was heard complaining to the coach, KP Bhaskar, that Gill had used cuss words at the umpire. However, GS Walia, a senior Punjab Cricket Association official, later denied the claim. Nonetheless, Bhaskar was unimpressed by the young batsman’s face-off with the umpire.
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Gill debuted for India in one-dayers against New Zealand last year[/caption]
“This is quite unacceptable. If someone is playing for India it doesn’t mean that he has got the right to intimidate an umpire. Showing dissent is a different thing but trying to intimidate an on-field umpire is way over the top.”
“He should be charged with level II offence for his conduct. This is Ranji Trophy, not a joke,” Bhaskar was quoted as saying by Times of India. Any punishment for the two-ODI old Gill will be decided only after the end of the game.
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The events did little to impact the flow of the game – three overs later, Gill edged behind again, this time off Simarjeet Singh, falling for a 41-ball 23.
Gill, the India A captain, made his senior team debut during India’s tour of New Zealand early last year. Considered one of India’s standout prospects for the future, he was part of the U-19 World Cup-winning team of 2018, ending as India’s leading run-getter with 372 runs.
