Saurashtra’s coach Sitanshu Kotak has thrown support behind his ward Chesteshwar Pujara after the latter decided not to walk away during the Ranji Trophy 2018-19 semi-final clash against Karnataka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Interestingly, it happened twice in the same game.
The 31-year-old Rajkot-born Pujara was booed by the crowd while chanting ‘cheater, cheater’. However, it did not sit well with his team coach, Kotak. The irked coach eventually questioned Karnataka’s Vinay Kumar regarding the sportsmanship.
“It is wrong on the crowd’s part. Has Vinay Kumar ever called a batsman back in his career for being given out wrongly? If he has not done so then, he has no right to complain,” Kotak told Mid-day.
The 46-year-old Kotak cited his example of falling prey to the umpiring howlers which made games dull. He added there was no one around to call me back and play my game following outrageous decisions. According to Kotak, the opponents were happy enough to claim his wicket.
On the second day of the Ranji Trophy fixture, fortune favours Pujara when he feathered a short and rising delivery which settled into the gloves of Srinivas Sharath. He then went on to add 44 in his first innings after umpire turns down the appeal.
I too got bad decisions: Sitanshu Kotak
Moreover, the Test specialist Pujara was given not out by on-field umpire Saiyed Khalid when he edged the ball straight into the gloves of wicket-keeper S Sharath. That time around Pujara was batting on 34 on day four.
“I don’t think it makes any sense [to criticise Pujara]. In my career, I would have got 20 to 30 ridiculously bad decisions and never has anyone called me back because the opposition were so happy that Kotak was out,” Kotak said.
With his unbeaten 131, Pujara steered Saurashtra home alongside Sheldon Jackson sublime ton by five wickets to make it to the Ranji Trophy final for the third time.
However, Kota admitted the fact that their lies always a possibility that human can commit mistakes until and unless it’s not pre-planned.
“As long as the umpire is not doing it purposely. He’s human; he can make mistakes. You have to go with the decision and accept it. There were so many decisions which went against us as well… at least five to six. But we haven’t complained,” Kotak added.
The duo registered 214-run partnership for the fourth wicket after the visitors were struggling at 23 for three in second innings. Earlier, Manish Pandey-led Karnataka had set the target of 279 runs for the Saurashtra.
Kotak added Pujara is having a wealth of experience on his back and far better as a cricketer than him.
“Pujara is a far better player than me,” Kotak further said.
Kota on false appealing:
Also, Kota has accused Karnataka of the frequent appeals. He maintained Prerak Mankad was apparently not out when Karnataka appealed several times to claim his wicket. He stated why they did not recall Mankad back to restart his innings.
“Karnataka can cry, but when they got Prerak Mankad out [on 0 in the first innings], caught behind by appealing wrongly even as the ball was relatively far away from the bat, why didn’t they recall Prerak? If they had sporting spirit, why would they falsely appeal?” concluded Kotak.
The high-flying team will take on Faiz Fazal-led Vidarbha in the much-awaited finale which will commence on February 3 in Nagpur.