Cricket is a funny game. There are infinite rules and most of which are not understood by an average viewer. The game sometimes becomes so complicated that even the custodians of the game, i.e. the umpires, even fail to remember. Case in point is the 2019 ICC World Cup finals when Kumar Dharamasena (later accepted) awarded an extra run to England when the ball deflected off Ben Stokes and went for a four. Aside from the rules, sometimes uncanny and unbelievable situations occur in the game.
One such moment would include the entire concept of the soft signal. A player could be out if the soft signal was out even when the third umpire reckoned otherwise. Similarly, the entire concept of umpire’s call in a DRS appeal baffles people since if half the ball hits the stumps but the umpire gives not out, the batsman would continue to bat.
Another such situation is when a batsman who has faced zero balls and is at the non-striker’s end gets out. His scorecard would read 0 runs from 0 balls. This, to the layman, would look impossible but it indeed has happened in international cricket. We look at 5 such incidents when this has happened.
1.BS Bedi
It happened in 1972 when England was touring India. It was a 5 match series and this happened in the second test which was played in Eden Gardens, Kolkata. In the first innings, India batted first and Bedi had come out to bat at number 10. Without playing a ball Bedi got out while running with Bhagwat Chandrasekhar.
2.AD Gaekwad
In 1983, India toured West Indies. This was again a 5 match series. The second test was played in Port of Spain, Trinidad. India batted first in the first innings and the opening was done by Gavaskar and Anshuman Gaekwad. Both the openers failed to score big however, Gaekwad got run out at the other end without facing a single ball. It was Mohinder amaranth who had to come in early and save the innings.
3.RK Chauhan
In1997-98, Sri Lanka toured India for a 3 match test and limited-overs series. In the 3rd test, played in Mumbai, India batted first. Sachin and Ganguly scored daddy hundreds in the first innings. The total team total was a huge 512 runs. However, in the second innings, India went for quick runs and lost a lot of wickets. One of which was Rajesh Chauhanqho was run-out by Tilakaratne Dilshan on zero and he had faced no balls.
4.Rahul Dravid
It was a 5 match intensely fought test series between India and Pakistan. India was touring Pakistan after very long in 2004. The second test was played in Lahore and in the second innings, Indi had to provide Pakistan with a lead for them to chase. Dravid came out to bat and a lot of hopes were attached on him for a big total. However, Dravid was run out on 0 by Imran Farhat without him facing a single delivery.
5.Jasprit Bumrah
In the just ongoing test match against England, Bumbrah came out to bat in the first innings. He and Shami had played a crucial role in the third test so fans expected him to continue performing with the bat. He partnered with Siraj in the middle to put on some key runs on the board. However, Siraj hit the ball towards the slip-gully cordon and went in for a quick run. Rory Burns the fielder took a sharp throw and hit the stumps. Unfortunately, Bumbrah could not add anything against his name and got out without facing a ball
