Arundhati Reddy faces reprimand over controversial send-off

India all-rounder Arundhati Reddy has been reprimanded and handed one demerit point following an incident during India's ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match against Pakistan. Despite being named Player of the Match for her outstanding bowling performance, Reddy’s send-off gesture towards Pakistan’s Nida Dar has attracted attention and disciplinary action.

Controversial send-off during Pakistan's innings

The incident took place during the 20th over of Pakistan's innings when Reddy dismissed Nida Dar, Pakistan's top scorer in the game, for 28. As Dar was leaving the field, Reddy pointed toward the pavilion, a gesture that was interpreted as provocative. The send-off, which violated the ICC’s code of conduct, resulted in Reddy being charged with breaching Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.

This article covers "using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match." Given that this is her first offense within the ICC’s two-year period for demerit points, Reddy now carries one demerit point on her record. Accumulating four demerit points within this time frame could lead to a ban from future matches.

The Indian all-rounder did not contest the charges and accepted the sanction proposed by the match referee. The reprimand somewhat dulled the shine of Reddy's impactful performance, where she claimed three crucial wickets and helped India restrict Pakistan to a modest total of 105/8.

Reddy’s heroic performance guides India to victory

Despite the reprimand, Arundhati Reddy's performance on the field was exceptional, playing a pivotal role in India’s much-needed victory. In her four-over spell, Reddy bowled with precision, claiming three wickets for just 19 runs, including the key dismissals of Omaima Sohail, Aliya Riaz, and Nida Dar.

Reddy’s efforts helped stifle Pakistan’s middle-order, preventing them from building momentum in the later stages of their innings. Her final wicket, that of Nida Dar, came at a crucial moment and effectively ended Pakistan’s hopes of posting a more competitive total. Along with her teammates, Reddy ensured that Pakistan could only score 29 runs in the final four overs, a phase where Pakistan failed to accelerate despite having wickets in hand.

Reddy’s disciplined bowling and match-winning spell earned her the Player of the Match award, as India bounced back from their opening loss to New Zealand to secure their first win in the tournament. This victory boosts India’s chances of progressing to the knockout stages.

While the victory was significant for India, Reddy’s send-off incident cast a shadow over her otherwise impeccable performance. The demerit point serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to the spirit of the game. As per the ICC rules, any player accumulating four demerit points within a two-year period will face a suspension, which could impact their participation in crucial matches.

Reddy will now have to be cautious in her conduct on the field in future matches to avoid further disciplinary actions. Nevertheless, her performance on the day was critical in securing a vital win for India in the Women’s T20 World Cup campaign.

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In the match, Pakistan Women were restricted to 105/8 in their 20 overs, largely due to the impressive bowling from Reddy and her teammates. In response, India chased down the target comfortably, reaching 109/4 with 11 balls to spare. Reddy’s performance, though marred by the reprimand, played a key role in India’s clinical win.