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On the opening day of the Ranji Trophy 2025-2026 clash between Bengal and Services in Kalyani, Bengal captain Abhimanyu Easwaran was involved in a bizarre dismissal that has sparked debate across the domestic circuit. While batting fluently on 81, Easwaran was run out on the final delivery of the 41st over after a lapse in judgment led him to believe the ball was dead.
Abhimanyu Easwaran gets run out during drinks break in Ranji Trophy
The incident unfolded when his partner, Sudip Chatterjee, played a full-length delivery straight back toward bowler Aditya Kumar. The ball reportedly grazed the bowler's fingers before ricocheting into the stumps. Under the impression that the over had concluded and drinks were being called, Easwaran stepped out of his crease to head toward the pavilion. He was not attempting to steal a run, but since the ball was technically still in play, the Services team appealed, and the third umpire subsequently adjudged him out.
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The mistake I made surprised even me: Easwaran
Despite the "brain-fade" moment, the Bengal skipper accepted the decision without protest. While some observers questioned whether Services should have withdrawn the appeal under the "spirit of the game," Easwaran reportedly acknowledged his mistake for being oblivious to the live-ball situation. Fortunately for Bengal, his departure didn't stall their momentum, as Sudip Chatterjee went on to score a brilliant unbeaten 140, guiding the team to a strong position of 340/4 at stumps.
"The innings was going very well, but the mistake I made surprised even me. Some might feel the opposition could've called me back in the spirit of the game, but there was no question of that. It was entirely my fault. I thought the bowler had collected the ball and instinctively moved forward," he said after the close of Day 1's play.
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Bengal strongly placed at 340/4 after Day 1
The recent dismissal of Easwaran has drawn inevitable comparisons to a famous incident during the 2011 India versus England Test series. In that match, England's Ian Bell was run out under similar dozy circumstances after he mistakenly assumed a ball had reached the boundary and left his crease for tea. While he was technically out, India’s captain, MS Dhoni, eventually withdrew the appeal during the interval following a request from the England dressing room. This gesture of sportsmanship later earned Dhoni the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award of the Decade.
Despite the shock of losing their captain in such a bizarre fashion, Bengal’s middle order ensured the team remained in a position of strength. Easwaran’s departure for 81 ended a massive 151-run opening stand, but it paved the way for a masterclass from veteran Sudip Chatterjee. Returning from injury, Chatterjee anchored the innings with a brilliant, unbeaten 140, marking his 14th first-class century.
By the close of Day 1 at the Kalyani Stadium, Bengal had reached a commanding 340/4 in 86 overs. While Anustup Majumdar (27) and Shahbaz Ahmed (38) made useful contributions before departing, the final session belonged to the pair of Chatterjee and Sumanta Gupta. The duo has already added an unbeaten 73-run partnership for the fifth wicket, with Gupta batting solidly on 31 heading into Day 2.
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