The debate of the spirit of cricket rages on. While many, including commentators, hailed Rishabh Pant for withdrawing an appeal against Jitesh Sharma after Digvesh Rathi ran him out on the non-striker’s end, Ravichandran Ashwin has blasted the Lucknow Super Giants captain for not backing his bowler. Jitesh, who got the lifeline, smashed an unbeaten 85 off 33 balls to help Royal Challengers Bengaluru chase down 228 in the last league match of IPL 2025.
“I am a big fan of Pant. I’m clarifying it yet again before being targeted by people. But think, you are the father of Rathi, and his captain, in front of crores of people, criticised him. He actually went over the board. A captain’s job is to back the bowler and not make himself feel small,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Heart of the matter
In the 16.5 overs, Digvesh Rathi appealed for a run-out on the non-striker’s end as Jitesh Sharma left the crease by almost two feet before the ball was bowled. Even though IPL 2025 does not require the umpire to confirm with the bowler for an appeal, on-field umpire Michael Gough asked the bowler to confirm. Rathi stuck to his guns and went ahead with the appeal.
However, as the third umpire was checking the run-out, Rishabh Pant withdrew his appeal. It was already not-out because Rathi had completed his delivery stride. But Pant became the hero with Jitesh giving him a hug for withdrawing the appeal. Rathi became the fall guy despite no fault.
“Is he justified in being out if he stepped outside the crease before Digvesh Rathi got into the delivery stride? Yes. Would it be bad for RCB? Yes, again, because they would not have liked Rathi or Pant if they did that. Now let’s look into the real-case scenario. When Rathi landed his front foot, Jitesh was inside the crease. So, this was not out. After breaking the stumps, umpire Michael Gough asked him whether he was appealing, and not whether he was sure. He said, ‘Yes, I’m appealing. ‘ So the decision went to the third umpire, and the right decision was made,” Ashwin explained.
“Until now, everything was right. But after that, commentators started saying that Pant has withdrawn the appeal – what an amazing act of sportsmanship. Grow out of this,” added Ashwin, who had a fair share of mankading controversy in his career.
LSG win on sportsmanship, lose to RCB
However, the sportsmanship cost LSG the match. Jitesh hammered 20 runs off William O’Rourke in the 18th over as RCB won by 6 wickets to qualify for Qualifier 1.
Rathi had a chance to dismiss Jitesh in the same over. But even as Ayush Badoni took a great catch to dismiss Jitesh, the siren went off. Digvesh Rathi had bowled a back-foot no-ball. Had that not been a no-ball and Jitesh been given out, LSG would have won the match.
The loss meant LSG finished 7th despite Rishabh Pant returning to form, scoring a grand century in their last match of IPL 2025. RCB will now face Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 on May 29.
