WATCH: Umpire gives it not out, but Punam Raut walks back to the Pavilion
India’s middle-order batter Punam Raut opted to walk off after nicking the ball on Day 2 of the pink-ball D/N Test in Gold Coast against Australia even as the on-field umpire didn’t think she was out.
Raut left everyone shocked as she made the decision for herself in a very honest admission of edging the ball to the keeper. While the umpire failed to spot the edge, Raut was aware of it. She didn’t even wait for an on-field call and started taking the long walk back to the pavillion.
The incident is from the fourth ball of the 81st over in the Indian first-innings. Facing the Aussie left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux from an around-the-wicket angle, Punam Raut shaped up to play a defensive push towards the off-side but missed the ball.
Immediately, Molineux and the rest of the Australian fielding unit went for a loud appeal but the umpire remained unmoved. The bowler had only just turned back towards Raut before she started walking off the playing arena, accepting that she did nick the ball to the wicketkeeper.
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Punam Raut walks off for a nick even as umpire gives not out
The commentators and fans watching the game were left shocked as Punam Raut decided to leave the field for an edge even when the on-field umpire had felt she hadn’t nick the ball.
Raut’s move looks more surprising with the fact that there are no DRS reviews available for both teams in the women’s D/N Test.
If the 31-year-old right-hander had opted to hold her ground, she would’ve continue batting since the umpire had not sighted the edge.
Umpire gives it not out, but Punam Raut walks!!!! Scenes!#AUSvIND
— CricXtasy (@CricXtasy) October 1, 2021
The batter had worked really hard for her knock of 36 off 164 deliveries before the dismissal but decided at the moment that it would be unfair on Australia if she remained there despite being out caught.
Fans and experts had mixed reactions to Punam Raut’s decision to walk off. While some praised her for playing within the right spirits, others felt it wasn’t the right thing to do because the umpire had not given her out.
Here is how some of them reacted:
Punam Raut a little too honest when the opportunity was there to bat Australia out of the game. Why walk when the umpire is there to do a job?
— Shashank Kishore (@captainshanky) October 1, 2021
Could've been tempting for Punam Raut to stand her ground. A rare test, her first pink ball test, 164 balls in on a comfortable track, no DRS. Impressed. #AUSvIND
— Sreshth Shah (@sreshthx) October 1, 2021
Hate to say this, but a batter slowing down in pursuit of a milestone is more against the 'spirit of the game' than them walking when given not out.
Punam Raut vs SA in the 4th ODI earlier this year slowed down for her hundred, and today she walked off before a crucial period.
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) October 1, 2021
Punam Raut walks after been given not out. This is harmful, because
1. It is disrespectful towards the umpire.
2. It is selfish in a team game (I wish they drop her and mention this as official cause).
3. It will reignite that nauseatingly replusive phrase, Spirit of Cricket.
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@SachinAzharCT) (@ovshake42) October 1, 2021
Punam Raut has walked off against a 'not so convincing' appeal & a nod of refusal from the umpire#AUSvIND
— Nish Navalkar (@YUVI_NISH) October 1, 2021
Wow! Fair play to Punam Raut. This was her only opportunity on the tour and she walks. Not sure how many other players would have made that decision with their place hanging in the balance… #AUSvIND #Respect #PinkBallTest pic.twitter.com/wQxsXtakYB
— Ananya Upendran (@a_upendran11) October 1, 2021
There is No Point Of Walking off when Umpires Decision was Not Out
As done by Punam Raut today .There is Nothing called Spirit of the game.
Your Rule Book Tells Umpires Decision is Final.
Don't Appreciate.
Let's Cricket be played with the Rules.@BCCI
— Arun (@kingfisher650ml) October 1, 2021
People actually complaining about Punam Raut's SR in a Test & celebrating her walking?!
In ODIs at least I get that some want to watch more slam-bang batting thanks to men's cricket being the frame of reference.Clearly, India's No 3 Test batters have a unique burden to bear
— Zenia D'cunha (@ZENIADCUNHA) October 1, 2021
Raut has now made 187 runs in her three Tests for India at an average of 37.40, including a hundred. She has also played 73 ODIs and 35 T20Is for the Indian women’s team.