NEW DELHI: The 2024-25 edition of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy on Friday got off to a chaotic start as a record 17 wickets fell on the opening day of the Perth Test.
As batters found themselves in the firing line, the quicks from both the sides enjoyed the grassy and bouncy conditions, pulling off incredible performances.
And amid a bowlers’ show at the Optus Stadium in front of a packed house, a KL Rahul contentious call added more spice to the drama as his caught behind dismissal became a big talking point of the day.
Late in the first session, Rahul, batting on 26, was adjudged out caught behind by the third umpire after on-field umpire Richard Kettleborough had ruled the decision in Rahul’s favour.
As the on-field umpire gave a cold shoulder to the appeal from the Aussies, the hosts used DRS to challenge the decision. Third umpire Richard Illingworth then surprisingly overturned the call despite not having sufficient evidence to overturn the on-field call.
The decision sparked outrage with former players from both the countries questioning the third umpire’s decision to overturn the on-field official’s not out call.
Here’s a look at who said what on the Rahul controversial call:
“It got overturned obviously, but I thought it was regulation, the sound it made, the timing of it, I thought it was just a regulation wicket,” Australian quick Mitchell Starc said after day’s play.
“First of all, disappointed with what was provided to the TV umpire,” Manjrekar said on Star Sports.
“He should have got more evidence. Based on just a couple of angles, I don’t think such an important decision in the match should have been made. My point is, with the naked eye there’s only one certainty and that’s the pad being hit by the bat. It’s the only visual certainty we’ve got that with the naked eye. For everything else, you needed the aid of technology, which is Snicko.
“So ideally, if there was bat, as an edge to the ball, there should have been an earlier spike because clearly two events there, and the umpire obviously heard one noise. The visual certainty was bat hitting the pad. If that was the spike, then there wasn’t an outside edge. If we were shown two spikes, then you could say the first one was the bat. So it was a poor supply of technology to TV umpire, and he should have said he can’t nail it.
“If there weren’t two spikes, they should have gone with the visual evidence which was bat hitting the pad. I think it was poor all around, and I don’t blame the on-field umpire. You got to feel for KL Rahul, the amount of hard work that’s been put opening the innings. And such a big moment personally for him when you look at his career and for India too. Travesty in a way,” Manjrekar added.
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