Rishabh Pant has built a reputation in world cricket not just for his explosive batting and wicketkeeping skills, but also for his entertaining antics behind the stumps. Whether it’s cheeky chatter with the batters, light-hearted interactions with teammates, or mic-catching one-liners, Pant has often brought smiles even in tense moments. However, Day 3 of the first Test between England and India at Headingley witnessed a different version of Pant—one who looked visibly agitated and unimpressed by a decision that didn’t go in his favour.

Rishabh Pant throws the old ball after umpire Paul Reiffel refuses to approve a change

The drama unfolded midway through England’s innings, when Pant, now serving as India’s vice-captain, walked up to on-field umpire Paul Reiffel and requested a change of the old ball. Pant appeared to be convinced that the ball had lost its shape and was no longer offering the desired movement. He pointed out the condition of the seam and wear, hoping the officials would agree to swap it out.

However, after examining the ball, umpire Reiffel concluded that the ball was still within acceptable playing condition and denied the change. What followed was uncharacteristic from Pant—he flung the ball to the ground with clear frustration, an act that was instantly captured on the broadcast cameras. The gesture, although brief, revealed how emotionally invested the Indian vice-captain was in the game’s proceedings.

Here’s the video:

GUSSA pic.twitter.com/7E4ymHenK0

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Boos ring out as Headingley crowd reacts to Pant’s visible anger

Pant’s moment of exasperation didn’t go unnoticed by the Headingley crowd. The Yorkshire faithful, known for their vocal and passionate support, began to boo the Indian cricketer, interpreting his reaction as disrespect toward the umpire’s authority. While the situation didn’t escalate beyond that, the incident added a layer of tension to an already competitive Test match.

Also READ: Michael Vaughan outlines England’s path to victory in the Headingley Test against India