WATCH | Delhi players stoop to new low, ignore Vidarbha batsman writhing in pain

01/03/2018

At a time when even the fiercely rivaled Ashes is seeing more sportsmanship and humanity from players on both sides, Delhi players’ indifferent display in the Ranji trophy final has raised some serious questions. The fielders chose to walk past the squirming Vidarbha batsman holding his rib cage.

Vidarbha managed to create history last week as they finally managed to win the elusive Ranji Trophy for the first time in the team’s history since it was formed 61 years back. Led by Faiz Faizal, Vidarbha registered a convincing nine-wicket win over the seven-time champions, Delhi.

However, much more than the historic moment, what caught the viewers’ attention was Delhi fielders’ shocking reaction after a Vidarbha batsman took serious hit by a vicious bouncer and fell to the ground writhing in pain, holding his rib cage. To everyone’s surprise, none of the players near him, be it the one at the short leg, the wicketkeeper or those at the slips even went to check on his well being.

They were seen looking at the player squirming on the ground as they walked past him. Quite shockingly, even the umpires looked equally disinterested in aiding the batsman and no one took a step before his partner at the non-striker’s end signaled the medic from the dugout.

As soon as the incident went online, people wasted no time in criticizing the Delhi side led by Rishabh Pant urging them to show some sportsmanship and question the so-called ‘gentleman’s game’. Though Delhi’s Gautam Gambhir took to Twitter after the match to extend his warm wishes to Vidarbha for winning their maiden title, it doesn’t take away anything from their behaviour on the field.