The Indian cricket team is in a pretty strong position in the second test match against New Zealand as the Indian bowlers have wrecked havoc on the Kiwi batsmen and wrapped up New Zealand’s first innings at the meager score of just 62 runs. Team India put up a good total of 325 runs in the first innings with the help of Mayank Agarwal’s beautiful knock of 150 (311 balls, 17 fours & 4 sixes) and useful knocks of 44 (71 balls, 7 fours & 1 six) and 52 runs (128 balls, 5 fours & 1 six) by Shubman Gill and Axar Patel, respectively.
However, the Indian skipper Virat Kohli must be pretty disappointed and his wait for a century got elongated as he got out for a duck after playing four balls. What makes it more frustrating is the fact that Virat’s dismissal was a controversial one and not just the cricketing experts but the cricket fans were left fuming after Kohli was given out by the third umpire. In the 30th over of the innings which was bowled by Ajaz Patel, the Indian skipper was given leg before wicket (LBW) out by the on-field umpire but Virat went for a review as he was confident that the ball had hit the bat first and then it hit the pad.
The replay also suggested that the ball hit the bat first as it changed its direction while moving towards the pad but the third umpire Virender Sharma gave the decision as out because he didn’t get the conclusive evidence which could prove that the ball hit the bat first. Virat Kohli left the field visibly annoyed after having a little chat with another on-field umpire Nitin Menon.
Simon Doull, the former Kiwi cricketer who is doing commentary in the test match which is being played at Mumbai also talked about the lack of conclusive evidence in this case and as per him, the decision given by the third umpire was absolutely correct.
What a hell with these advanced technologies, a young kid can make batter decisions.
Worst umpiring#IndvsNZtest @BCCI @imVkohli@vikrantgupta73 @rawatrahul9#IndvsNZtest pic.twitter.com/R9nwQt3K4p— Shushant Sinha (@ShushantSinha8) December 3, 2021
However, the Indian cricket lovers and the cricket fraternity were not pleased with the decision. Even Bollywood actor turned politician Paresh Rawal didn’t mince his words in calling it an example of third class umpiring.
This is what Paresh Rawal tweeted, “Is it third umpire or third class umpiring?”
Is it third umpire or third class umpiring. ?
— Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) December 3, 2021
The micro-blogging site Twitter was flooded with reactions in which the cricket fraternity and Indian cricket lovers lambasted the third umpiring for his decision. Check out some of the selected ones:
#1
That was bat first in my opinion. And I understand the 'conclusive evidence' part. But I think this was an instance where common sense should have prevailed. But as they say common sense is not so common. Feel for Virat Kohli. #Unlucky #INDvNZ
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 3, 2021
#2
How was that OUT? Felt Kohli got a faint inside edge before the ball hit the pad. Third umpire needed conclusive evidence. Tough luck. What do you think?
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) December 3, 2021
#3
Inconclusive evidence shouldn’t mask the quality of the decision…or the lack of it. #IndvNZ
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 3, 2021
#4
Bat first-surely!!! #IndvsNZtest
— Abhinav Mukund (@mukundabhinav) December 3, 2021
#5
Tough call for @imVkohli don’t think he was out🤦♂️
— Sunandan Lele (@sunandanlele) December 3, 2021
#6
If they thought it hit the pad first, shouldn’t there have been a spike. I didn’t see any before the ball hit the bat. Keeping bias aside, stating facts. 🙄 #IndvNZ
— Ajith Ramamurthy (@Ajith_tweets) December 3, 2021
#7
Wasn’t conclusive? Really?
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) December 3, 2021
#8
Virat Kohli's luck sucks. No one can ever be so freaking unlucky with everything!
Ugly umpiring. Indian umpires need to be sacked, except some. Standards going down day by day.
— Jaanvi🏏 (@that_shutterbug) December 3, 2021
#9
https://twitter.com/robkey612/status/1466689679630245893
#10
Wowee 👀 #INDvNZ
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) December 3, 2021
#11
Massive fan of the third umpire getting so bogged down in checking the edge of the bat that he then momentarily forgets to use ball tracking. #INDvNZ
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 3, 2021
#12
kohli to umpire : pic.twitter.com/r4RWFcJ695
— malak. (@itsmemalakkk) December 3, 2021
#13
https://twitter.com/ArhamJain22/status/1466691419276337152
#14
The biggest comedy was Third umpire forget about ball tracking and give out.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 3, 2021
#15
https://twitter.com/ImKartik05/status/1466691353316773889
#16
'Kanoon andha hain' has gone too far in cricket.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) December 3, 2021
#17
*Footage shows there was a bat*
Thrid Umpire: pic.twitter.com/3biy9JiyMw
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) December 3, 2021
#18
Take a moment to appreciate the humour of the last few minutes. This may not happen again. Cherish it. #IndvNZ
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) December 3, 2021
#19
https://twitter.com/tanyamidhaa/status/1466691087507021824
#20
When 3rd Umpire says that he is inconclusive, you know that bad luck has reached a new level with Virat Kohli.#IndvsNZtest
— Pranav Shete (@pranavshete1) December 3, 2021
Did you watch the dismissal of Virat Kohli? What is your take in this regard? Let us know.
