ENG vs IND: Rishabh Pant reveals why the umpires told him to change his stance in Leeds

Rishabh Pant is known to be someone who finds different ways to score runs. Sometimes, this seems orthodox, sometimes unorthodox, and sometimes cheeky. Ever since landing in England, Rishabh Pant has tried to counter the swinging ball by batting out of the crease. However, during the first day of the third Test between England and India at Headingley, Leeds, the southpaw was told by the umpires not to do so.

Pant had a very short stay at the crease at Leeds as he was dismissed for just two runs from nine deliveries, right after the lunch break. Ollie Robinson got the ball to swing slightly away from him and Pant who felt could lash on to it and get a boundary ended up getting an edge to the wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

Rishabh Pant explains the reason why the umpires told him not to bat too far outside the crease

During his short stay at the crease, he had a conversation with the umpires regarding his stance and the umpires told him to bat a bit close to the stumps than he was. After the day’s play, Pant explained why the umpire told him to do so. “Because I was standing outside the crease and my front foot was coming into the danger area, so he (the umpire) told me that you can’t stand there,” Pant said during the virtual post-day press conference.

The danger zone is an area on the pitch which lines straight with the stumps on either side of the wicket. Bowlers, fielders, and batsmen are advised to stay away from this area as their shoes could spoil the area and allow more and more footmarks, which could, in turn, be disadvantageous for the team batting last. Pant, though, seemed to be cool about the whole matter and said that he generally doesn’t think too much about these things.

“So, I have (had) to change my stance, but as a cricketer, I don’t have to think too much about that because it’s everyone who is going to do that, umpires are going to say the same thing. I didn’t do that the next ball and you move on,” Pant said. After winning the toss in Headingley, India batted first and had a disastrous day on the field. They were rolled over for just 78. England managed to end the day on 120 for 0, with a 42 run-lead already.