Day 2 in Ranchi saw the fourth Test between India and England poised delicately, with the hosts striving to chase down the visitors’ commendable first innings total of 353. Early setbacks saw Rohit Sharma departing to James Anderson and Shubman Gill falling short of a half-century, dismissed LBW by Shaoib Bashir.
However, amidst this tension, Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his phenomenal form, notching up yet another near-flawless half-century just before Tea. Yet, controversy brewed when Ben Stokes suggested that Jaiswal should have been dismissed on the last ball of the 20th over.
Ollie Robinson’s delivery wide of off stump in his seventh over tempted Jaiswal to drive through cover. However, the southpaw’s shot fetched only a thick outside edge, snaffled up by Ben Foakes diving low to his left. Initial appeals went up, including from Joe Root at first slip, but with some reservation due to uncertainty about whether the ball had carried.
The on-field umpires referred the decision upstairs, where replays revealed the ball bouncing just before reaching Foakes’ gloves from a front-on angle, although the side-on angle added some ambiguity. Despite the evidence, Stokes and his teammates erupted in celebration upon seeing the replays on the big screen, only to be left in disbelief when the decision returned as not out.
— Jas Pope (@jas_pope93438) February 24, 2024
— Jas Pope (@jas_pope93438) February 24, 2024
Stokes’ frustration was palpable, signaled by swinging his arms across the waist in resignation. Given his recent comments advocating for the removal of the umpire’s call, Stokes faced criticism from Twitter users for his perceived unnecessary display of frustration.
