Watch: India all-rounder Krunal Pandya, making his ODI debut, became engaged in a verbal battle with Tom Curran during the first ODI between India and England in Pune.
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The incident occurred after the fifth delivery of the 49th over in the India innings, when Pandya drilled the ball to long-off for a single. Upon exchanging ends, Pandya, who hit the fastest fifty by an ODI debutant, seemed to have been ticked off by something and was seen giving an earful to Curran, who was walking back to his bowling mark.
As Krunal’s verbals continued, one of the on-field umpires intervened, ushering him to the side. Krunal kept on going, waving his bat animatedly even after that. Jos Buttler was seen talking back to Krunal, while Curran walked off from the scene.
David Lloyd, on Sky Sports, wasn’t too impressed by the exchange, saying: “Yellow card ‘em. Just give them a yellow card. So simple.”
It’s unclear as to what exactly triggered Pandya into launching into a tirade. KL Rahul, batting at the other end, completed the over by thumping the next ball over the long-on fence.
The incident comes only a few days after India captain Virat Kohli was seen having a fiery argument with Jos Buttler after the latter’s dismissal in the fifth T20I between the two sides in Ahmedabad.
Sunil Gavaskar, during the post-innings show for the broadcasters, said that the England team was “trying to talk to him, maybe unsettle him, but he’s someone who has played a lot of IPL, which toughens you up,” also adding that when you get to a landmark, you “feel the emotion”.
Watch the incident here:
Krunal pandya debut includes a 50
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Verbal battle with Tom Curran #ENGvIND #IndiavsEngland pic.twitter.com/EX3qAQE8KQ— theShivamKapoor (@sherlony3000) March 23, 2021
