India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was involved in an amusing passage of play during the first Test of the India-Bangladesh Test in Chennai, jokingly setting the field for the opposition.
On day three of the Chennai Test, Pant walked out to bat alongside Shubman Gill, the pair having remained not out after taking their side to 81-3 at the close of play on day two.
They continued to pile on the runs in the first session on day three, as both batters made their way to half-centuries with no real issues. In fact, Pant may have been a bit too comfortable in the middle.
The broadcasters' stump mic caught Pant effectively setting the field for Bangladesh. Between overs, he was heard saying: "Arre, idhar aayega ek. Bhai, ek idhar. One fielder here, midwicket, (One fielder will come here. Over here. One fielder here, midwicket)," gesturing to the leg side as he faced up to the bowler.
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Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was engrossed in conversation with the bowler, at the top of his run-up. But the fielder Pant was addressing had been standing on the off side, and after Pant pointed out where he was meant to be, moved across hurriedly to midwicket.
Former India wicketkeeper MS Dhoni had done something similar during a 2019 World Cup warm-up match against the same opposition, stopping the bowler in his run-up to apparently correct the position of the fielder at square-leg.
However, on that occasion it may have been misinterpreted. There were suggestions later that the fielder had been moving as the bowler ran in, prompting Dhoni to pull out and ask that he return to his original position.
At lunch on day three, India were in a commanding position at 205-3, a lead of 432 runs.
Watch Rishabh Pant set the field for Bangladesh here
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