Kohli & Rohit Prompt Pant To Stop Play Due To Bad-Light, Root Looks Visibly Annoyed - WATCH

IND Vs ENG Test: Day 4 ended with high drama on the field. England fans would think that Kohli pressured the umpires from the Balcony to stop play, but what do the rules say, really? Check out below. 

Day 4 of the 2nd Test between India and England ended rather dramatically. Joe Root looked annoyed with Rishabh Pant as he walked towards the dressing room. The reason being that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were prompting Rishabh Pant to stop playing as the light had become dim and it was getting difficult to score for the batsmen.

The MCC laws that govern the rules in cricket say that a player cannot ask for bad light. It only depends on the discretion of the umpires. 

Let's first look at Kohli and Rohit prompting Pant

In the video, we can see Kohli and Rohit indicating that the light has deteriorated and he (Pant) should return back to the pavilion. Is it right for a batsman to ask the umpire about the bad-light conditions? 

What do the MCC rules state? 

The modified law (3.5.3 of the MCC manual) reads: “If at any time the umpires together agree that the conditions of ground, weather or light are so bad that there is an obvious and foreseeable risk to the safety of any player or umpire, so that it would be unreasonable or dangerous for play to take place, then they shall immediately suspend play, or not allow play to commence or to restart. The decision as to whether conditions are so bad as to warrant such action is one for the umpires alone to make.”

Why Was England Captain Joe Root Annoyed? 

England had bowled 82 overs when the umpires decided to leave. The full quota of 90 overs in the Day was not completed. Moreover, the new ball was also available and England could have picked some more wickets during the closing moments of the match. Then, Kohli prompted Pant from the Lord's balcony about the bad light and umpires decided to stop play as well. 

Root was annoyed as he was bowling two spinners from both ends and still he had to stop play which might have looked unfair from England's point of view. As the day was called, Root went up to Rishabh Pant to express his displeasure as they both walked off the field. 

Day 4 ended with high drama on the field. England fans would think that Kohli pressured the umpires from the Balcony to stop play. Nonetheless, the Test match is poised very nicely with India leading by 154 runs in 2nd innings.