England skipper Ben Stokes found himself in a heated on-field exchange with the umpire over a controversial DRS delay by Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal during the second Test.
Tensions Rise Over DRS Call
The drama unfolded on Day 3 of the second Test between England and India. Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was facing Josh Tongue when he was given out LBW. The decision initially looked clear, but Jaiswal took his time to consult with his batting partner, KL Rahul, as the crucial 15-second DRS timer ticked down.
England captain Ben Stokes quickly noticed that Jaiswal appeared to signal for the review after the allotted time had expired. This immediately sparked a furious reaction from Stokes, who began an animated discussion with umpire Sharfuddoula.
The 15-Second Rule at Play
Cricket regulations clearly state that a team has 15 seconds from the moment the ball is dead to signal for a Decision Review System (DRS) referral. Stokes argued passionately that India should not have been granted the review, believing the time limit had been breached.
Despite Stokes’ protests, the review was ultimately allowed. However, the decision to challenge the umpire’s call proved fruitless for Jaiswal. Ball-tracking technology showed three reds, confirming the original LBW dismissal and sending the left-hander back to the pavilion.
A History of Exchanges
This wasn’t the first time Stokes and Jaiswal had exchanged words in the series. Earlier in the first innings, the two players had a verbal back-and-forth. The incident occurred when Jaiswal was completing a run, and Stokes reportedly said something to him as he reached the non-striker’s end.
Jaiswal’s quick retort, “You don’t want to hear from me, come on,” briefly diffused the tension. However, Stokes continued to try and get under the batter’s skin in the same over. Despite the attempts to rattle him, Jaiswal remained focused, reaching his half-century in the very next over.
Stokes eventually had the last laugh in the first innings, dismissing Jaiswal in the 46th over. Jaiswal attempted a cut shot, got a faint edge, and was caught behind by Jamie Smith.
- Ben Stokes objected to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s DRS referral, believing it was requested after the 15-second time limit.
- Despite the controversy, Jaiswal’s review was unsuccessful, with ball-tracking confirming his LBW dismissal.
- This was not the first heated interaction between Stokes and Jaiswal during the series.
Such on-field debates highlight the intensity and competitive spirit present in top-level cricket, where every rule and second can become a point of contention.
