[WATCH] Ishan Kishan Reignites Cricket's Spirit Debate With Bairstow-Style Dismissal Attempt
Ishan Kishan tried to pull off an Alex Carey (Twitter)
Debutant wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan sparked off a controversy on Day 3 of the first Test against West Indies Test in Dominica on Friday.
Ishan Kishan stirred up the 'spirit of cricket' debate
Kishan attempted to replicate the contentious dismissal technique employed by Alex Carey against Jonny Bairstow recently in Ashes 2023 which caused a reprise of the fierce spirit of cricket debate that had initially rocked the cricketing world.
The disputable incident took place on the final ball of the 33rd over of Day 3, bowled by Ravindra Jadeja to Jason Holder. As Holder misjudged a shortish delivery outside off and missed his cut shot, Kishan quickly seized the opportunity to collect the ball.
Following a brief pause behind the stumps, Kishan swiftly dislodged the bails the moment Holder's foot moved off the ground.
The southpaw's subsequent appeal pointedly directed towards the leg umpire was met with denial as the umpire had already signalled the end of the over, rendering the ball dead.
Despite the wicketkeeping manoeuvre technically adhering to the rules of the sport, its execution was perceived by many as falling short of the game's spirit, reigniting debates both within the teams and across the cricketing fraternity. The controversial moment was instantly shared across social media platforms, fans weighing in on the incident with their perspectives.
The Kishan-Holder incident served as a reminder of the controversial Bairstow dismissal at the Ashes 2023 earlier this month. The parallel events served to revive passionate debates about the ethical nuances of cricket, questioning if the letter of the law should override its spirit in defining acceptable gameplay.
Meanwhile, India secured a commanding win by an innings and 141 runs in the first Test to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The second Test will be played in Trinidad starting Thursday, July 20.