Led by Eoin Morgan, Kolkata suffered an 18-run defeat against three-time champions Chennai in the Indian T20 League 2021 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.
This was Kolkata’s third consecutive defeat in the ongoing edition of the high-profile T20 league and has raised questions about the captaincy of Eoin Morgan. The Englishman has also failed to perform with the bat in the tournament so far, scoring just 45 runs in four matches at an average of 11.25.
Apart from his questionable captaincy and poor form, Eoin Morgan also turned heads for wearing two caps on the field at the Wankhede. It wasn’t the first time Morgan wore multiple caps while fielding.
Eoin’s headgear choice has nothing to do with the style quotient. It’s not his thinking hat either.
Eoin Morgan was helping a teammate, most likely a bowler, by keeping his cap as players are no longer allowed to hand them to the umpire due to new COVID-19 protocols.
Morgan wears the bowler's cap as he fields close to the bowler’s run-up so that he can talk to them in between deliveries.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has prohibited players from handing their items including caps and sunglasses to umpires like they usually did before the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Players and umpires should maintain social distancing on the cricket field and that includes no handing over of player items (cap, towels, sunglasses, jumpers) to the umpire or teammates,” say the new ICC rules.
“Consider adopting a process that will assist the bowler in managing his/her items. Umpires may also be encouraged to use gloves when handling the ball."
Several cricketers and support staff of the Indian T20 League franchises have tested positive for COVID-19 despite the bio-bubble.
India is currently reeling under the second way, with cases amounting to well over 250,000 daily.
Featured photo: IPL/BCCI
