The tension on Day 3 of the third Test between India and England at Lord’s reached another level when former Indian captain Anil Kumble took a subtle but pointed jab at on-field umpire Paul Reiffel. As the game continued to shift in England’s favour, Anil Kumble remarked that Reiffel appeared to have made up his mind not to give any marginal calls in India’s favour.
The moment that sparked this criticism came during an intense spell from Mohammed Siraj who had already picked up two wickets and was maintaining relentless pressure on the English batters. One delivery in particular stood out, Siraj bowled a sharp in-cutter to Joe Root, who had stepped across and down the pitch, missed the ball entirely and was struck plumb in front of middle stump. Convinced of a dismissal, Siraj and the Indian fielders erupted in appeal. But Reiffel was unmoved and India opted for the DRS. The review revealed no bat involved and projected the ball hitting the stumps, yet the impact fell under the umpire’s call and the not-out decision stood.
As Siraj walked back visibly frustrated, commentator Abhinav Mukund observed the pacer glaring at the umpire. The mood in the commentary box mirrored the tension on the field. Former England cricketer Jonathan Trott acknowledged that it looked like the ball was destined for the stumps, noting the intensity of India’s reaction. Anil Kumble, however, did not hold back and quipped that Reiffel seemed to have made a blanket decision not to give anything close as out.
The frustrations on the field continued to mount for India, especially with Root and England captain Ben Stokes putting together a gritty 67-run partnership under testing conditions. Joe Root, who had already survived the close LBW call, eventually lost his wicket while attempting to sweep Washington Sundar. The ball sneaked past his bat and crashed into the stumps, ending a patient knock of 40 off 96 balls. Sundar then dismissed Jamie Smith shortly after, with a delivery that stayed low and beat the batter’s defense, hitting the off-stump as Smith misjudged the line.
Earlier in the day, Siraj had been the standout performer in the opening session, utilising the deteriorating pitch to his advantage. His controlled aggression and sharp movement reduced England to 98 for 4 by lunch, giving India an upper hand in the morning.
Despite the strong bowling performance, moments like the missed LBW against Root and the umpire’s reluctance to rule in India’s favour added an extra layer of drama and frustration.
As the Test continued to unfold, it became clear that beyond the cricketing battle, the on-field decisions and reactions were shaping the narrative just as much.
