Cricket fans witnessed a truly bizarre and comical scene during the West Indies’ second innings in their opening Test match against India. The unusual incident occurred when West Indies tail-ender Jomel Warrican, attempting an aggressive shot against a delivery from fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, completely lost control of his bat.
(Image: Jomel Warrican’s bat goes flying after a swing at Mohammed Siraj, screengrab)
In the 37th over, with the West Indies already in deep trouble at 98 for 7, Warrican swung hard at a short ball. Instead of connecting with the leather, his bat slipped from his grasp, soaring dangerously towards the short leg position. Indian fielder Sai Sudharsan, stationed there, reacted instinctively, ducking for cover with an expression that conveyed pure astonishment and a hint of fear as the bat whizzed past him.
Remarkably, amidst this chaos, the ball headed towards mid-off. A composed Shubman Gill moved swiftly to his right, securing a simple catch to dismiss Warrican for a duck off just two balls. Even the commentators couldn’t help but highlight the absurdity of the dismissal, noting the dramatic, albeit unplanned, end to Warrican’s short stay at the crease.
Adding another light-hearted touch to the moment, wicketkeeper KL Rahul calmly retrieved the runaway bat and returned it to a slightly sheepish Warrican. This brief, amusing interlude stood out in an otherwise dominant bowling performance by the Indian team.
Mohammed Siraj, who delivered the memorable wicket, was in fine form, having already claimed three wickets and bowled two maidens in his nine overs, dismantling the West Indies’ lower order with his accuracy and bounce.
India had established control early, making quick work of the West Indies’ top and middle order before the lunch break. The relentless pressure continued after lunch, with wickets falling at regular intervals. This comical dismissal further cemented the visitors’ dire position, leaving them on the brink of a heavy defeat.
Ultimately, India secured a resounding victory in the first Test, defeating the West Indies by an innings and 140 runs, underscoring their superiority throughout the match.