Controversy erupts as Ajinkya Rahane is recalled from dressing room to bat again in Ranji Trophy match

The 2024-25 Ranji Trophy match between Mumbai and Jammu & Kashmir at the BKC Ground in Mumbai on Friday, January 24, witnessed a strange incident involving Ajinkya Rahane. The Mumbai captain was initially ruled out and returned to the dressing room before being summoned by the on-field umpires.

After quickly dismissing lower order Jammu & Kashmir in the first session, Mumbai were 86 runs short. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal added 54 runs for the first wicket but the Mumbai team collapsed. The team collapsed to 86-5, putting pressure on Rahane to steer them out of trouble.

Watch: Ajinkya Rahane is recalled from dressing room to bat again

The incident happened during the 25th over of Mumbai’s second innings on Day 2. Pacer Omar Nazir bowled a short delivery that pinched Ajinkya Rahane for space and the batsman gloved the keeper. Rahane went back to the dressing room and the all-rounder Shardul Thakur came out to bat.

However, there was confusion when the umpires started checking for a no-ball but the video was only available to the third umpire. Ajinkya Rahane was called back to the crease, sending Thakur back to the stand. The umpires later clarified that Rahane had been asked to wait but had not listened to their instructions.

Watch the video of the incident below:

Ajinkya Rahane was given out and left the ground and the umpires called him back from the dugout and Shardul was on the ground and sent back to the dressing room. Have you ever seen a player call from the dugout after leaving the field? #RanjiTrophy #AjinkyaRahane @BCCIdomestic @BCCI pic.twitter.com/LH3a8vtilo

— Manoj Yadav (@csmanoj21) January 24, 2025

Will send relevant material to BCCI – Nitin Goel

The live telecast did not show the no-ball and the production team revealed that they did not have access to the footage. Match referee and third umpire Nitin Goel attributed the delays to communication issues.

Nitin Goel has revealed that he tried to communicate with the on-field umpire via walkie-talkie after Ajinkya Rahane’s dismissal. Goel confirmed that it was a clear no-ball in no doubt about the decision and added that he would send the relevant material to the BCCI.

“When I tried to reach the umpire on the walkie talkie, the umpire was on a different channel. So it took some time to contact the on-field umpire. Rahane himself appeared on the screen, showing that he did not hear the umpires asking him to wait. There was no doubt about it, I will send the relevant material to the BCCI,” Goel, a former Haryana batsman, was quoted as saying Cricbuzz.

What the ICC rules say about referees calling off batteries

According to the Laws of the Game, “An umpire must intervene if he is satisfied that a stroke, not given out, has left the wicket under the misapprehension that it is out. The umpire who intervenes shall call and signal Dead ball to prevent any further action on the part of the field and will call off the hit.

“A strike may be called at any time up to the time the ball comes into play for the next delivery, unless it is the last wicket of the innings, in which case it should be up to the time the umpires leave the field.”

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