Rishabh Pant Reprimanded by ICC After Frustration Boils Over in England Test

India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant has landed in a bit of hot water with the ICC after showing dissent toward an umpiring decision during the third day of the ongoing Test against England.

Pant was pulled up for breaching Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which deals with players expressing visible or excessive disappointment with an umpire’s call, and possibly for dragging out a discussion over the decision longer than necessary. This Level 1 offence has earned him an official reprimand and one demerit point — his first in the last two years. Thankfully for Pant, it doesn’t come with a match fee deduction this time. 

The incident happened in the 61st over of England’s first innings, when Harry Brook and Ben Stokes were at the crease. Pant took issue with the condition of the ball and brought it to umpire Paul Reiffel’s attention. Reiffel inspected it with the ball gauge and deemed it fine. That didn’t go down well with Pant, who visibly threw the ball onto the ground in frustration, right in front of the umpire. The crowd, unsurprisingly, responded with a few jeers. 

Pant didn’t contest the charge and accepted the proposed penalty from match referee Richie Richardson. With no formal hearing required, the matter was quickly settled. The complaint was jointly raised by the on-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Paul Reiffel, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, and fourth umpire Mike Burns. Level 1 violations like this typically come with a slap on the wrist — an official warning, possibly a fine of up to 50% of the match fee, and one or two demerit points. 

Despite the disciplinary hiccup, Pant has been having a stellar game. He etched his name in the history books by becoming just the second wicketkeeper to notch up two centuries in a single Test match. As for the contest itself, it's perfectly poised heading into the final day. England are 21 for no loss, chasing a steep 371-run target.