Ruturaj Gaikwad took to social media to express his frustration over the controversial dismissal of his Maharashtra teammate Ankit Bawne during a Ranji Trophy match against Services. Gaikwad is currently touring Australia, he scored 145 for Maharashtra in his last game before joining India A. Gaikwad has been following the progress of his domestic team closely. Although he scored 0 and 5 in India A’s recent match against Australia A, he stayed connected with Maharashtra’s ongoing match.
The controversy arose after Maharashtra bowled out Services for 293 in the first innings. Despite starting solidly at 137-3, Maharashtra suffered a batting collapse, losing all their wickets for 185 runs. Bawne’s dismissal was a key moment in this collapse. He edged the ball towards second slip, where the fielder moved low to his right to make the catch. The fielding side appealed, and Bawne was given out by the umpires. However, video replays later showed that the ball had bounced before reaching the slip fielder’s hands.
“Shame to even appeal”: Ruturaj Gaikwad Voices Disappointment with Ranji Trophy Umpires
Despite clearly seeing the bounce in the replays, the decision stood. Bawne protested with the umpires on the field, arguing his case, but the decision was not overturned, forcing him to leave the field. This incident forced Gaikwad to voice his disappointment on Instagram, where he shared a story calling the decision “absolutely pathetic.” He questioned how such a call could be made in a live match, highlighting the unfairness of the ruling. Gaikwad also criticized the fielding side for appealing for the catch, stating, “Shame to even appeal this for a catch!”
Maharashtra’s collapse and Bawne’s contentious dismissal put them in a tough spot. By the end of Day Two, Services had reached 15-0 in their second innings, extending their lead to 123 runs. The situation underscored how crucial Bawne’s wicket was to the match and why Gaikwad, a key player for Maharashtra, felt so strongly about the decision.
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