'We are here to play and not sit in the dressing room' - Ajinkya Rahane recalls conversation with umpires regarding racism issues

Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane has revealed the conversation with the umpires in the Sydney Test where the Indian fast bowlers, Mohammad Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, faced racism from the crowd. The incident happened at the end of the third day when the spectators abused the quicks, and Siraj in particular, was quite hurt and took it to his stand-in captain Rahane to address the issues. The match officials were informed about the abuse and it continued again on the fourth day as well.

The play had to be halted for ten minutes and a conversation between the Indian captain and the umpires resulted in the abusers getting expelled from the crowd. India managed to draw the Test with a splendid effort on the final day from the likes of Hanuma Vihari and Ravi Ashwin who batted with pain to save the Test for India. The tour went on to become a historic series after India scripted the unbelievable chase on the final day at Gabba, and the SCG draw proved its worth as well.

What happened in Sydney was completely wrong: Ajinkya Rahane

Rahane, during an event in Mumbai on Wednesday (June 1) to launch Bandon Mein Tha Dum, a documentary on the historic series, mentioned the way he had demanded the abusers to be pulled out from the ground. He explained about Siraj facing the abuse yet again on the fourth day morning and recalled telling the umpires that India would not play until the situation is handled.

“[We] insisted on getting the abusers out of the ground. When Siraj again came to me [on the fourth day, after being abused the day before], I told the umpires that [they] need to take action and we won’t play till then,” Rahane was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

He added that the umpires had given the option to walk out if needed but noted he had insisted the play be continued and the abusers removed from the ground. He felt that the SCG incident was completely unfair to India and highlighted the importance of supporting Siraj at the time.

“The umpires said that you can’t stall the game and can walk out if you want. We said that we are here to play and not sit in the dressing room and insisted on getting the abusers out of the ground. It was important to support our colleague given the situation he had been through. What happened in Sydney was completely wrong,” he added.