ENG vs IND 3rd Test: THIS is why umpires asked Rishabh Pant to remove taping on his gloves on Day 2

While India are surely struggling in Leeds against England in the third Test, the visitors are trying to get their way out as the Three Lions have scored 423 and lost eight wickets. 

It was surely a tiring day for Indian bowlers at Headingley. Skipper Joe Root had again smashed his third century of the series and the hosts have a whopping lead of 345 runs currently.

While fans are praising England’s side, one thing that caught the attention of many was the chat Indian skipper Virat Kohli and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant had with the on-field umpire.

Before the start of the third session, match officials Alex Wharf and Richard Kettleborough were seen telling Pant to remove the tapes on his wicketkeeping gloves. 

The tape was apparently branching his fourth and fifth fingers which are not correct according to the MCC laws.

Law 27.2 designed for gloves states as follows,

27.2.1 – If, as permitted under 27.1, the wicketkeeper wears gloves, they shall have no webbing between the fingers except joining index finger and thumb, where webbing may be inserted as a means of support

The move apparently came after Dawid Malan’s wicket which was caught behind the wickets. They got the tapes removed from Rishabh Pant’s gloves. 

Commentators on-air, Nasser Hussain and David Lloyd, clarified the confusion and stated that the laws for the gloves suggest one can’t tape the way Pant did.

“There are lots in the laws of the game about the webbing, but we’re hearing from the third umpire, Richard Illingworth, that he wasn’t allowed and he’s not allowed to tape his gloves like that, so they’ve asked him to take that tape off,” Hussain said.

Lloyd further argued that Dawid Malan should be recalled as the dismissal would be illegal, however, Nasser Hussain reckoned that tapes had been there right through the series and not only for this match.