India pacer Harshit Rana has been officially reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching the Code of Conduct during the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi.
The incident occurred in the 22nd over when Rana dismissed South Africa batter Dewald Brevis and gestured towards the dressing room. The action was deemed provocative under Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which prohibits language or gestures that could incite an aggressive reaction from a dismissed batter.
Match referee Richie Richardson of the ICC Elite Panel proposed the sanction, which Rana accepted. He received one demerit point added to his disciplinary record. This marks his first offence in the past 24 months.
Despite the controversy, India secured a 17-run victory, powered by a brilliant century from Virat Kohli. The second ODI of the series is scheduled to take place in Raipur on Wednesday.
