‘A batsman can stand anywhere’ – Maninder Singh on umpires asking Rishabh Pant to change stance during Leeds Test

Former Indian cricketer Maninder Singh said that the umpires might have made an error in stopping Rishabh Pant from taking his preferred stance. In India’s first innings of the Leeds Test against England, the on-field umpire requested the left-handed batter to change his guard since he was threatening the danger area with his front foot.

On the occurring, Singh said that Pant was well within his rights to mark his guard anywhere he wished. The veteran said that going by the rules and regulations, the umpires shouldn’t have objected Pant from taking his stance.

“I don’t think so, I reckon it’s wrong. A batsman can stand anywhere; it’s the bowler’s job to get the batsman out. A batsman can’t be stopped from taking his preferred stance. So, it was hard for me to understand why he was stopped; there must be some rules. But as far as I am aware of the rules, I’m not sure if the umpires could show any objection,” Singh was quoted as saying in ESPNcricinfo.

Rishabh Pant on the matter

Earlier, during the post-day press conference on Wednesday, Pant revealed the reasons why the umpires asked him to change his stance. “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.

“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,” he said.

Pant didn’t taste much success in the first innings as he got out for two runs off nine balls. The southpaw made a tentative poke outside the off-stump, giving Ollie Robinson a crucial wicket. India folded for 78 in 40.4 overs after the Three Lions’ fast bowlers wreaked havoc.

At the end of the third day’s play, India are trailing by 139 with eight wickets left in their second innings. Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli are the overnight batters and they have stitched together a partnership of 99 runs for the third wicket.