Abhimanyu Easwaran Suffers Bizarre Run-Out As Bengal Batter Leaves Crease for Drinks During Ranji TrophY 2025-26 Match Against Services

Bengal captain Abhimanyu Easwaran was at the centre of a highly unusual dismissal on Thursday during a Ranji Trophy 2025-26 against Services, finding himself run out after mistakenly leaving his crease for a drinks break while the ball remained in play. The bizarre incident, which occurred with Easwaran batting fluently on 81, has sparked considerable discussion within cricketing circles regarding player awareness and the laws of the game. Bizarre! Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Sees Rare ‘Hit Twice’ Dismissal Despite Lamabam Ajay Singh Following Rules; Ashwin Says It’s ‘Out Only in Gully Cricket.

The Incident Unfolds

The peculiar event unfolded on the final delivery of the 41st over during Bengal's first innings at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground in Kalyani. Easwaran's batting partner, Sudip Chatterjee, pushed a full-length delivery from Services bowler Aditya Kumar back down the pitch. Believing the over to be complete and that a drinks interval had been called, Easwaran, positioned at the non-striker's end, instinctively stepped out of his crease and began walking forward, seemingly to take a sip of water. However, in an unexpected turn, the ball brushed Aditya Kumar's fingers during his follow-through and deflected onto the stumps at the non-striker's end. With Easwaran well out of his ground, Services appealed, and the third umpire subsequently confirmed the run-out, cutting short a promising innings.

Easwaran Accepts Blame

Following the day's play, Easwaran took full responsibility for the lapse in concentration, dismissing any debate surrounding the "spirit of cricket" and the Services team's decision to uphold the appeal. "The innings was going very well, but the mistake I made surprised even me," Easwaran stated, adding, "Some might feel the opposition could've called me back in the spirit of the game, but there was no question of that. It was entirely my fault." He further explained that he thought the bowler had collected the ball and that he "instinctively moved forward" in anticipation of the break. Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the incident as "simply a mistake on the batter's part" and affirming that Services were within their rights to appeal. Sarfaraz Khan Hits 120-Ball Hundred For Mumbai, Scores 17th First-Class Century During Hyderabad vs Mumbai Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Match.

Broader Implications

This rare dismissal, which saw Easwaran fall 19 runs short of what would have been his 28th first-class century, serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining concentration until the ball is officially declared dead. While such incidents are uncommon in professional cricket, they underscore the strict adherence to the Laws of Cricket, which dictate that a batsman must remain within their ground until the ball is no longer in play. The event has certainly added an unusual chapter to the ongoing Ranji Trophy season, highlighting how a momentary lapse can have significant consequences in the sport.

The incident, though unfortunate for Easwaran and Bengal, ultimately stands as a testament to the unforgiving nature of cricket's rules and the constant vigilance required from players at all levels of the game.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 23, 2026 07:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).