A controversy erupted on the very first day of the Mumbai test match as the Indian captain Virat Kohli was adjudged leg before wicket by the on-field umpire and the decision was then upheld by the television umpire Virender Sharma when Kohli referred it upstairs.
It was an arm ball by New Zealand left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel which didn’t really spin which Kohli was expecting and since the bat was very close to the pad, it was hard to tell if the ball hit the bat or the pad first. In the case of the ball hitting the pad first (which the on-field umpire thought), it was a straightforward LBW decision as Kohli was right in front of the stumps.
But, what the television umpire had to judge was whether the ball came in contact with the pad or it was deflected off the inside edge of the bat onto the pad. The evidences from different angles were not really conclusive enough for the TV umpire to overturn the decision that was made on the ground and he declared Kohli out, which agitated the Indian fans.
Everyone had their opinion on the dismissal, but the majority of the fans were of the view that the deflection off the inside edge was so clear that it shouldn’t have been difficult for the TV umpire to overturn the decision.
The television umpire was confused by the side on the angle of the replay
From the television umpire’s point of view, he looked at it from the front on as well as from side on and while the deflection was very evident from the front on, from the side on it just seemed impossible to conclude if the inside edge came into effect first or the ball had already touched the pad before it was inside-edged.
If there was any bit of doubt in the television umpire’s mind from any angle, one could understand why he decided not to overturn the decision, but one can also understand the agitation of the Indian fans afterwards, as they can’t accept that the Indian skipper was hard done by a controversial decision which could so easily have gone in his favor.
Virat Kohli himself was really angry on his way to the pavilion as he smacked the boundary rope with his bat in frustration as he went past it. With Ajinkya Rahane not being a part of India’s XI for the Mumbai Test, Virat Kohli’s wicket was extremely important in the context of the game.
Here is how Twitter reacted after Virat Kohli was given out controversially –
It's a clear edge from Kohli I think
Advertisement— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) December 3, 2021
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
Advertisement— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 3, 2021
Clearly see there was deviation. Ball hit bat first. Virat Kohli immediately take review. Third umpire doing such mistake. Nothing is going good for Virat Kohli. #IndvsNZtest #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/P3Ugpa3rY3
Advertisement— Arjit Gupta (@guptarjit) December 3, 2021
Pretty clearly taking the edge and change in direction of the ball. And Third Umpire was so keen in saying "OUT" even before ball tracking 😑@imVkohli • #INDvsNZ
pic.twitter.com/K8KZMBpbKXAdvertisement— Troll RCB Haters (@Troll_RCBHaters) December 3, 2021
Wowwwwwww!!
What a great admiring decision.
We cricket fans salute to the third umpire who is searching for a conclusive evidence👏🏻@imVkohli#viratkohli pic.twitter.com/eyumt4eEi2Advertisement— Ashwanth(18) (@iamashwanth18) December 3, 2021
Basically this is what the third umpire wants to overturn the decision given to Kohli #IndvsNZ pic.twitter.com/7E9Ow4ven8
Advertisement— Nikhil k (@Nikhilk_2001) December 3, 2021
Ok it's an inside edge all right. Maybe that's why Kohli referred. My major complaint is how can a third umpire forget to check ball tracking? Must have been so nervous there. #NZvsIND pic.twitter.com/qUdlrTU1xJ
Advertisement— Cow Corner (@CowCorner183) December 3, 2021
Shameful third umpiring clear inside edge ….. stupidity at its best, less of Third Umpire and more of third vampire ??? #IndvsNZtest @imVkohli
Advertisement— Suresh Menon (@sureshnmenon) December 3, 2021
What utter rubbish by the third umpire! How is this out??? Clear inside edge. @imVkohli #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/aYDgimfVtY
Advertisement— Adi 🇮🇳 (@adiupadhyay) December 3, 2021
Really dissappointed @VirendraSharma
What do you think is this any gully cricket?
What is the use of technology you have if you can't give right decision.@BCCI should take an action against third umpire.@imVkohli @Indiancricteam7 @ICC @klrahul11 @RishabhPant17 @msdhoni pic.twitter.com/Z5bPZHEuYjAdvertisement— Akshat Mishra (@AkshatM54901859) December 3, 2021
