Ranji Trophy 2024/25: Why is Ankit Bawne Not Playing For Ruturaj Gaikwad's Maharashtra vs Baroda?

Maharashtra Cricket Association has explained the reason for batter Ankit Bawne's omission from the squad to face Baroda in the Ranji Trophy 2024.25 season Elite Group A match, which started on Thursday (January 23) at the Golf Club Ground in Nasik.

Ruturaj Gaikwad-led Maharashtra posted 258/7 at stumps on day one after they were invited to bat first by Baroda with wicketkeeper-batter Saurabh Nawale remaining unbeaten on 60 as the top scorer for the team.

Why Ankit Bawne is not playing for Maharashtra vs Baroda?

The Maharashtra batter has been handed a one-match suspension by the BCCI for showing dissent against an on-field umpire's call in a Ranji Trophy match last year. Hence, he is missing the tie against Baroda, currently in progress in Nashik.

The BCCI had conveyed the decision to the Maharashtra team. The incident had occurred at the MCA ground in November last year where Bawne had stood his ground after being caught in the slips by Services' Shubham Rohilla off Amit Shukla.

Bawne refused to leave the field for about 15 minutes as the decision could not be challenged due to the unavailability of DRS. The contest resumed following the intervention of match referee Amit Sharma and Maharashtra coach Sulakshan Kulkarni.

Maharashtra captain Ruturaj Gaikwad had posted images of the dismissal on his social media account while being away on the India A tour of Australia at that time, suggesting that Bawne was not out and the decision was incorrect.

"The Maharashtra Cricket Association would like to officially inform that our Ranji Trophy player, Ankeet Bawne, is currently serving a one-match ban imposed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)," the MCA said in a release on Thursday (January 23).

"As a result, Ankeet Bawne is unavailable for selection in the ongoing Ranji Trophy match against Baroda. However, we are pleased to confirm that he will be available for the next match and continue contributing to the success of the Maharashtra team," the release said.

"We respect the decisions of the BCCI and remain committed to upholding the principles of discipline and sportsmanship in the game of cricket. The team is fully focused on delivering its best in the ongoing game, and we look forward to Ankeet's participation in the upcoming matches," the state cricket's governing body added.