Former India skipper MS Dhoni, who took over the captaincy reins once again against Afghanistan on Tuesday in the Asia Cup Super Four match, indirectly grieved about the incorrect decisions made by the umpire in the course of the match. Needing 253 to win, India were bowled out for 252 with Rashid Khan dismissing Ravindra Jadeja in the final over, as the match ended in a tie.
Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, MS said that Indian batsmen need to work on shot selection. “We got off to a very good start with the bat, but the wicket slowed down over the course of the game, so someone should have continued with the bat. Shot-selection is something that we need to work on. There were a couple of run-outs, and a few things we can’t talk about because I don’t want to get fined for it. It’s good that it’s a tie, but they played really well.”
Dhoni was leading the Indian squad for the 200th time and he was adjudged LBW for 8 on a delivery Javed Ahmadi. He stepped out of the crease with long strides, which gave the impression that the ball might have spun down leg. But the umpires raised his fingers. With India left without a review, Dhoni had to walk back. The replays confirmed that it was indeed missing leg stumps by quite some distance.
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It was not the only wrong decision given by the umpire. Dinesh Karthik, who was playing on 44 in the middle, was also given out LBW by the umpire in Mohammad Nabi’s over. The ball clearly looked missing the leg stump and the replays confirmed the same. Karthik looked displeased at the decision but had to walk back.
Worst umpiring decision @BCCI @msdhoni @DineshKarthik pic.twitter.com/QrCWH4nrBY
— VK MEMES (@Vigneshmahidhon) September 25, 2018
Another controversial moment came in the final over of the match when Ravindra Jadeja smashed the bowl towards the mid-wicket boundary bowled by Rashid Khan. After multiple replays, it was given a four, but the fans remained convinced that the allrounder should have been awarded a six. Here are some of the reactions seen on Twitter regarding the same:
https://twitter.com/SharmaLuka/status/1044679340716429313
https://twitter.com/PakistaniReacts/status/1044677035644223488
https://twitter.com/imHPM/status/1044676654898008064
Tell me where was the bounce when Jadeja hit that six ? #INDvsAFG
— simran mehmi (@simran_mehmi85) September 25, 2018
That looked like a SIX and why did Jadeja take that single? #INDvAFG
— Madhav Sharma (@HashTagCricket) September 25, 2018
Despite the tie game, Afghanistan remained knocked out from the tournament. India will play the winner of Pakistan vs Bangladesh fixture on Friday in the Asia Cup final.
