Watch: Cheteshwar Pujara Survives An LBW With A Bizarre Rule

During the second day of the final match of the ongoing 86th season of the Ranji Trophy 2019-20 between Saurashtra and Bengal in Rajkot, Saurashtra batsman Cheteshwar Pujara received a major reprieve after he was declared not-out courtesy of a ‘nine-feet mark’ in the Indian domestic cricket.

It all happened on the third delivery of the 98th over when Pujara’s attempt of stepping out against Bengal spinner Shahbaz Ahmed saw him getting hit on the front pad.

With umpire KN Ananthapadmanabhan ruling the decision in the batsman’s favour after a huge appeal from the visitors, Ahmed insisted his captain to opt for limited DRS.

Watch: Cheteshwar Pujara Survives LBW With A Weird Rule

Replays confirmed that the ball had hit Pujara’s pad before hitting his bat. With the ball also hitting Pujara inside the line of the wickets, it made the bowler’s case all the more stronger.

In the absence of ball tracker, the impact of the ball remains the only thing to be observed.

Watch the video of the incident here: 

https://twitter.com/faceplatter49/status/1237260341253271552?s=20

Pujara, who had stepped out of his wicket, had crossed the nine-feet mark which is marked outside the pitch on either side. Due to limited DRS, it is a rule in the Indian domestic cricket that a batsman won’t be declared out if he crosses the above-mentioned mark.

With third umpire S Ravi giving the decision in Pujara’s favour, the unusual rule sparked an on-field debate between Bengali players and the on-field umpire.

Saurashtra In Driving Seat After Day 2

Saurashtra have gone on to score 384 runs for the loss of eight wickets at stumps on Day 2 of the final of this year’s Ranji Trophy.

Arpit Vasavada and Cheteshwar Pujara stitched together a 142-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Vasavada went on to score a century whereas, Pujara scored a gritty half-century in the final of the tournament.

Bengal will have to dismiss the remaining Saurashtra batsmen on Day 3 or else they could find themselves under real pressure.

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