WATCH | Team India in splits after Ravindra Jadeja appeals for a bowled dismissal

12/06/2017

The gloomy Test match at Kotla had been quite monotonous for the first four days until Ravindra Jadeja sparked a light moment of laughter for both the commentators and his teammates. Failing to realize that he had bowled Lakmal, Jadeja kept appealing while others had already started celebrating.

The third Test of the India-Sri Lanka series will be remembered for incidents, both controversial and delightful. While Virat Kohli's sixth double Test century gave the fans something to talk about for years, the oxygen-gate scandal managed to draw criticism from all around the world. However, apart from them, it would also be remembered for Ravindra Jadeja's passionate appeal after bowling out Suranga Lakmal in the closing stages of the fourth day.

The incident occurred in the 16th over of the Sri Lanka’s second innings. After scoring 246 in the second innings, India declared to leave the Lankans with a mammoth target of 410 runs to chase in 119 overs. Sri Lanka, quite expectantly, lost three wickets in quick succession to Mohammad Shami and Jadeja.

After Shami had taken Sadeera Samarawickarma earlier in the game, Jadeja was handed the ball in the 16th over, where he would strike twice to do some serious damage to the Sri Lankan batting order. After he dismissed Dimuth Karunaratne off his very first ball, the Lankans decided to go with pacer Lakmal as a nightwatchman. It was on the fourth ball when Jadeja's flighted delivery on the off stumps and edged the bottom part of Suranga's willow as he was too late to get his bat down that resulted in the ball displacing the off stump from the ground.

The players fielding around Lakmal started rejoicing and approaching Jadeja to congratulate him for his wicket, but the funny part was the left-arm bowler still appealing to the umpire strongly with all his passion and might. He realised late that he had bowled out the batsman when his teammates informed him. Jadeja failed to hide his smile after realizing it and his teammates didn't leave the opportunity to have some fun with him. Even the on-air commentators said, "You don't appeal for a clean bowled, Mr. Jadeja."

That was the final over of the day and Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli were found gleefully trying to understand to Jadeja's explanation of missing out on a clean bowled as they returned to the pavilion.