Watch: Bizarre nine-feet mark rule saves Cheteshwar Pujara from LBW in Ranji Trophy

During the second day of the final match of the ongoing 86th season of the Ranji Trophy between Saurashtra and Bengal in Rajkot, Saurashtra batsman Cheteshwar Pujara received a major reprieve after he was declared not-out courtesy of a “nine-meter rule” in the Indian domestic cricket.

It all happened on the third delivery of the 98th over when Pujara’s attempt of stepping out against Bengal spinner Shahbaz Ahmed saw him getting hit on the front pad.

With umpire KN Ananthapadmanabhan ruling the decision in the batsman’s favour after a huge appeal from the visitors, Ahmed insisted his captain to opt for limited DRS.

Replays confirmed that the ball had hit Pujara’s pad before hitting his bat. With the ball also hitting Pujara inside the line of the wickets, it made the bowler’s case all the more stronger. In the absence of ball tracker, impact of the ball remains the only thing to be observed.

Pujara, who had stepped out of his wicket, had crossed the nine-meter mark which is marked outside the pitch on either sides. Due to limited DRS, it is a rule in the Indian domestic cricket that a batsman won’t be declared out if he crosses the nine-feet mark.

Here’s the video:

Here’s how twitterati reacted to it:

Bengal almost got Pujara

— Cricket baba (@Cricketbaba5) March 10, 2020

#Pujara Precise defensive technique against spinners has saved him today at a very crucial stage of the match. He missed a straight forward delivery but he played it beyond nine feet mark and saved the wicket. Batsmen should know what he is doing and rules too. @amolmuzumdar11

— Sandip Dighe (@DSandip_TOI) March 10, 2020

Bengal players are reacting as if they’re robbed of a wicket, Pujara was clearly 9 meter ahead of the wickets and correctly ruled not out #RanjiTrophy #RanjiTrophyFinal

— Abhijeet ♞ (@TheYorkerBall) March 10, 2020

Scenes. Cheteshwar Pujara was out LBW but the 9 ft rule saves him! #SAUvBEN #RanjiTrophy

— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) March 10, 2020