Bizarre “Drinks Break” Dismissal: Abhimanyu Easwaran Run Out For 81 VS Services

KALYANI, WEST BENGAL—In one of the most unusual dismissals in recent domestic history, Bengal captain Abhimanyu Easwaran was run out for 81 on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C clash against Services on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

What looked like a routine end to the 41st over turned into a nightmare for the veteran opener. Believing the over was complete and drinks had been called, Easwaran stepped out of his crease to head toward the boundary. However, the ball was still “live,” leading to a dismissal that has sparked intense debate over the “Spirit of Cricket.”

1. How it Happened: The Fatal Misunderstanding

The incident occurred on the final ball of the 41st over, bowled by Services seamer Aditya Kumar.

• The Play: Sudip Chatterjee played a straight drive back toward the bowler. Aditya Kumar attempted a catch in his follow-through, but the ball deflected off his fingertips and struck the stumps at the non-striker’s end.
• The Lapse: Easwaran, thinking the over was over, had already started walking away from his ground. He made no attempt to return or look for the ball.
• The Decision: Services appealed immediately. The third umpire confirmed that Easwaran was well outside his crease when the ball hit the stumps. He was ruled Run Out for 81 off 152 balls.

2. Easwaran’s Reaction: “Entirely My Fault”

Unlike the infamous Ian Bell incident at Trent Bridge in 2011, there was no request for a withdrawal of the appeal.

• Admission of Guilt: Speaking after the day’s play, Easwaran refused to blame the opposition. “The mistake I made surprised even me. It was instinctively moving forward as I thought the bowler had collected the ball. There was no question of being called back; it was entirely my fault,” he said.
• Coach’s View: Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla supported the Services’ decision to uphold the appeal, stating the dismissal was within the laws of the game and that “spirit of cricket” debates didn’t apply to a straightforward batting error.

3. Bengal in Command Despite the Drama

The dismissal cut short a brilliant 151-run opening partnership, but it didn’t derail Bengal’s momentum.

• Sudip Chatterjee’s Heroics: Returning from injury, veteran Sudip Chatterjee anchored the day with a masterclass 140 (226 balls)*, marking his 14th first-class century.
• Day 1 Score: Bengal finished at a formidable 340/4 in 86 overs at stumps on Thursday.
• Supporting Acts: Useful contributions came from Shahbaz Ahmed (38) and Sumanta Gupta (31)*, putting the hosts in the driver’s seat.

Bengal vs Services: Day 1 Summary (Jan 22, 2026)