Ahmedabad: Umpires standing at the non-striker’s end are at risk sometimes, especially when power hitters are teeing off against hapless bowlers in the T20 format.
Rohan Pandit was at the receiving end of Sanju Samson’s fury in the fifth and final T20 International against South Africa at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday evening.
Denied a place in the playing XI in the first four games of the series, Sanju was a man on a mission.
Having raced to 35 off 19 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes, Sanju spanked offie Donovan Ferreira’s fourth ball in the ninth over of India’s innings straight back at the bowler. The fiercely-struck ball ricocheted off Ferreira’s hand to the umpire, who took a stinging blow on his right knee.
Pandit held his knee, and fell to the ground writhing in extreme pain.
As the umpire lay on the ground, a doctor rushed to the ground to attend to Pandit.
Occupational hazards of being an umpire! 🫣
Sanju Samson middled this one a bit too well, and umpire Rohan Pandit caught the brunt of it. That’s got to sting. 🩹 Hope he’s okay!#Cricket #IndiaVsSouthAfrica #T20Ipic.twitter.com/uiZTMw6mSl
— Crux India (@crux_india_) December 19, 2025
The game was halted for three-four minutes, but Pandit did manage to recover and continue his job even as viewers wondered whether he will be replaced by the fourth umpire.
