Ishan Kishan will not face any charges for dissent following a heated exchange with an umpire during the final day of the four-day match between India A and Australia A in Mackay.
The incident unfolded when India A expressed dissatisfaction with the replacement of the ball, leading to accusations of ball tampering. Before play resumed, umpire Shawn Craig informed the Indian players that the ball was changed due to scratches. He stated, “You scratch it, we change the ball. No more discussion, let’s play.” Kishan responded, questioning the decision as “very stupid.”
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Craig deemed Kishan’s remarks inappropriate and warned him that he could be reported for dissent. Under Cricket Australia (CA) playing conditions, umpires can change the ball if they suspect it has been unfairly altered, as outlined in CA playing condition 41.3.4.
Three hours after the match, CA clarified that the ball was changed due to “deterioration” rather than tampering, despite the comments captured by stump microphones. A CA spokesperson confirmed that both teams’ captains and managers were informed prior to the decision.
Australia A captain Nathan McSweeney, who was batting at the time, expressed uncertainty about the reasons for the change, stating he did not notice any issues with the ball. McSweeney finished the match unbeaten on 88, helping his team successfully chase down the target.
Kishan, not part of India’s Test squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, along with India A captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, will not face any repercussions for the incident. However, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Prasidh Krishna, who played in the first game, remain in contention for the Test series.
The dramatic scenes at the start of play added tension to the closing stages of the match, showcasing the intensity of the competition as Australia A completed their chase.
