Bengal's Abhimanyu Easwaran run out after leaving crease to get drinks

Bengal captain Abhimanyu Easwaran was dismissed in slightly bizarre and unfortunate circumstances on Thursday, being run out after he had stepped out of the crease to get some water, assuming the ball was dead.

The incident occurred during the sixth round of the Ranji Trophy, against Services. Easwaran, who was batting fluently on 81, looked set for a 28th first-class century, until a momentary loss in judgment. In the final ball of the 41st over, bowled by Aditya Kumar, Bengal's Sudip Chatterjee pushed a full-length delivery straight back at the bowler. Assuming the over was done and drinks was called, Easwaran stepped out of the crease and started walking forward towards the pavilion; he wasn't trying to steal a run or gain an advantage.

However, the ball brushed Aditya's fingers, and was deflected on to the stumps. By then, Easwaran was already stranded, and following an appeal from Services, the on-field umpires referred the decision to the third umpire, who eventually ruled the batter out.

After the day's play, Easwaran owned up to his mistake, and dismissed any notion that the opponents should've called him back.

"The innings was going very well, but the mistake I made surprised even me," he said. "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."

Bengal's coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla echoed the same sentiment, when asked if the incident was similar to the infamous run-out involving India and Ian Bell in 2011. Bell had been run out assuming the ball was dead, just before the tea break in the Trent Bridge Test. However, following an intervention from England's captain Andrew Strauss, India withdrew their appeal, and Bell resumed his innings after the break.

"They may look similar, but you cannot compare the two directly," Shukla said. "That was a different era and different circumstances. This was simply a mistake on the batter's part. It doesn't mean he lacks awareness; he is a senior player, but cricket can be unpredictable. While the opposition could have considered calling him back, but there is nothing wrong in their decision not to. Everything happened within the laws of the game."