'Who do they think they are?' - Kevin Pietersen slams Rishabh Pant, Pravin Amre's 'unacceptable behaviour' over no-ball controversy

The controversy took center stage during the IPL 2022 game between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals over a no-ball decision. It was the last over of the match and DC required 36 runs. Igniting hopes in the Capitals camp, Rovman Powell smashed the first three balls for maximums off Obed McCoy’s bowling. The third ball was a high full-toss but the on-field umpires refused to adjudge it a no-ball.

What happened next was a shocker as DC skipper Rishabh Pant seemingly tried to call the batters back and forfeit the game. He even sent assistant coach Pravin Amre on the field to convey his stance. The game eventually resumed as RR won the fixture by 15 runs. Cricket fans weren’t amused with Pant’s action as he faced massive criticism from different corners.

Rishabh Pant’s behaviour was more concerning to me than the umpire’s call: Kevin Pietersen

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen also came out hard at the southpaw for sending a coach on the field. “It may have disrupted his concentration. It may have disrupted how Rishabh Pant was thinking about the game. That’s more concerning to me than the umpire call, the behaviour of Delhi,” Pietersen told Star Sports.

It must be noted that this incident happened in the absence of DC head coach Ricky Ponting, who’s serving in isolation as one of his family members tested positive. Pietersen reckoned that these scenes wouldn’t have taken place had Ponting been in the dug-out.

“I don’t think that would have happened if Ricky Ponting was there. I think Jos Buttler had every right to walk up to Rishabh Pant and say ‘what on earth are you doing?’ to send one of their coaches onto the field and think that was the correct behaviour?,” added Pietersen.

The former batter also slammed Amre for storming onto the field despite being a senior figure. “I don’t know who they think they are but that was a mistake, that was a huge, huge mistake. The biggest mistake is the coach running onto the field and talking to the umpire,” asserted the 41-year-old.

“I just do not understand the coach, he is a senior figure in those rooms. Rishabh Pant was calling them off. They wanted to walk off. For me, that was unacceptable and I hope I never ever see that again in the game of cricket,” he added.

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