We warned Charlie multiple times: Deepti on run-out

KOLKATA: India all-rounder Deepti Sharma on Monday revealed that Charlie Dean was warned against backing up multiple times before the former effected a run out of the England batter at the non-striker’s end in the third and final ODI in London.

The dismissal reignited an intense debate over the ‘spirit of the game’. “We had planned this as she was not paying heed to our repeated warnings. We acted according to the rules and the guidelines,” Deepti told reporters upon her arrival here.

Reduced to 118 for nine in its pursuit of 170, England’s chase was led by its No.9 batter Charlie, who revived its hopes with her last wicket partnership with Freya Davies. With 17 needed to win, Charlie was run out for 47 as the India off-spinner decided to clip the bails during her delivery stride and put an end to the 35-run partnership.

The run-out is currently listed in the ‘Unfair Play’ section of the laws, but is set to be moved to the ‘Run Out’ section at the start of next month, when an update in the ICC ‘Playing Conditions’ comes into effect. Deepti further pointed out that India had informed the umpires before running out Charlie.

“We did inform the umpires, but she continued to do it. There was nothing we could do,” the 25-year-old added. Meanwhile, the 39-year-old Jhulan Goswami, who has a record 355 wickets across formats, retired from international cricket in the final ODI as India secured its first-ever 3-0 sweep on English soil to give the legendary pacer a fitting farewell.

“Every team wants to win and we, as a team, gave our best effort to win it for Jhulan,” she Deepti. Jhulan and Deepti, who also play for Bengal in domestic cricket, landed in the city to a rousing welcome at the airport.