India A refutes ball-tampering allegations, explains Ishan Kishan’s interaction with umpire, suggests possibility of a nail

New Delhi: India A, currently in Australia for a two-match unofficial Test series, has strongly refuted any allegations of ball-tampering. The team clarified that wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan's interaction with the on-field umpire, for which he was noted for dissent, was completely unrelated to any form of misconduct.

A day after Cricket Australia dismissed the ball-tampering allegations against India A, a team source informed The Indian Express that the scratch on the ball likely resulted from it hitting the side-board or brushing against a nail near the boundary. The source firmly denied any player involvement in tampering with the ball.

“Our players didn’t tamper or scratch the ball. There were three marks on the ball which was changed. It was like a nail would have brushed it near the ground or the marks would have happened near the boundary rope or it must have brushed the boards. Our players had nothing to do with any allegations and our players told this to the umpire too,” a source within the India A team informed.

The incident occurred on the fourth day of the series opener at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, where the umpires replaced the India A team’s ball overnight. India A was defending a 224-run target, while Australia A began the final day with seven wickets in hand and trailing by 86 runs.

The ball change left Indian players puzzled, especially after umpire Craig informed them that scratches on the ball were the reason. Allegedly, Ishan Kishan expressed his frustration with the decision, reportedly calling it “stupid,” which led the umpire to report him for dissent and “inappropriate behaviour.”

A source told the national daily that Ishan Kishan merely questioned the umpire’s decision, as the entire team felt changing the ball was unnecessary.

“Kishan just asked the umpire for reasons to why the ball was being changed as we felt the ball was good enough to be used and that is why our players spoke to the umpire,” he added.

India A is set to play the second and final match of the series on November 7 in Melbourne, with KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel joining the squad.