Rishabh Pant Reprimanded by ICC for Outburst During Headingley Test

India’s vice-captain Rishabh Pant found himself in a spot of trouble during the first Test at Headingley, Leeds. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has handed him a demerit point after an incident involving on-field umpires on Day 3 of the match.

While the India-England Test saw several high points for India with the bat, tempers flared midway through England’s second innings when the ball became a talking point between the players and officials. Pant, visibly frustrated, got into a brief argument with the umpires — a reaction that led to ICC action under its Code of Conduct.

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What Triggered the Incident?

It happened during the 61st over of England’s first inning. Bumrah raised a concern bout the shape of the ball. When the umpire checked it with their gauge, they found no problem. After the two balls, Brook hit a boundary, which frustrated the Indian side more.

Now, this time, Pant raises the concern and asks to change the ball. This time also ball passes the test, so the umpire denies the request. On this, Pant got angry and, in frustration, he threw the ball. This act handed him a demerit point.

Why It Matters Going Forward

This is Pant’s first offence in the last 24 months. According to ICC rules, if a player collects four or more demerit points within two years, they face suspension — either for one Test, two ODIs, or two T20Is, depending on the format.

Apart from this incident, the first test match went positively for Pant. He scored two centuries in a single match and shattered multiple records.