Jitesh Sharma wouldn’t go out even if the pants did not appeal

Rishabh Pant’s decision to withdraw the mankad appeal against Jitesh Sharma has stirred a debate on the spirit of cricket. However, the RCB batter would have stayed not out even if the LSG captain had not taken back the appeal. Jitesh made the most of the opportunity as he played a match-winning knock to guide RCB to a 6-wicket win against LSG.

Jitesh would have been not out, mankad not possible

The incident occurred in 17th over of RCB’s run-chase as Digvesh Rathi was bowling to Mayank Agarwal. Jitesh, who was at the non-strikers’ end, attempted to leave the crease early. Rathi saw it coming and whipped off the bails before he could bowl the delivery. The bowler appealed but it was LSG captain Pant who decided to withdraw the appeal.

“Not out” was flashed on the big screen even as the LSG captain withdrew the appeal. But why? Well, as per the law, the batter at the non-strikers’ end is liable to be run-out only if the bowler does not complete his full action. In this case, Rathi had already completed his action after which he whipped off the bails.

“Even if the non-striker had left his/her ground before the instant at which the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, once the bowler has reached that point it is no longer possible for the bowler to run out the non-striker under this Law,” states the MCC  No. 38.3.1.2.