While the Indian skipper Virat Kohli was playing a brilliant innings during India’s first innings of the Perth Test against the hosts Australia, the umpires gave a controversial decision on Kohli’s dismissal that can be a game changer.
The visitors India started the day three of the second Test of the series on their overnight score of 172/3. Though the Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed in the very first over of the day, without adding any runs on his last day score (51), it didn’t affect on Kohli’s confidence who started the day on his overnight score 82 runs.
The 30-year-old right-handed batsman completed his 25th Test century in 214 balls. Even after completing his century, Kohli was focusing to stretch the visitors’ innings against Australia’s first innings total of 326. He had a crucial 50-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Hanuma Vihari who was dismissed on 20 off 46 balls.
Also watch: Kohli Rips Apart Hazlewood With Back-to-back Boundaries
After that, Kohli was busy to build up the innings with the wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant. They had a 28-run partnership for the sixth wicket and the lunch break was very close when India lost that precious wicket of Kohli and that too as a controversial decision.
On the final delivery of Pat Cummins during the 63rd over of the innings, Kohli had a thick edge after going for a drive against the full outside off delivery. That travelled to the second slip Peter Handscomb who grabbed that ball but there was a big question – whether that ball carried to him or not. Soon after taking that ball, Handscomb pointed to the on-field umpires that it was an out.
Doesn't get much closer than that! Kohli has to go… #CloseMatters #AUSvIND | @GilletteAU pic.twitter.com/v6luCLWez1
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 16, 2018
As the on-field umpires were not sure, they asked to the third umpires but their soft signal was out. In the replay, it was a very tight call where some positions were strongly indicating that the ball was landed just before Handscomb’s hand. But there was still a question – whether Handscomb’s fingers were underneath the ball or not? As there was no perfect footage, the third umpire Nigel Llong stayed with the “out” decision.
Indian skipper Kohli departed on 123 runs off 257 balls (13 fours and only six) where India was struggling on 251/6.
Here are some of Twitter reactions:
https://twitter.com/TanujSi47701251/status/1074164325802102785
#Kohli@FoxCricket
Is it clean catch? pic.twitter.com/boQ4YimNNC— Harshu srivastava🇮🇳 (@himsri91) December 16, 2018
Somethings never change for these Aussies. Cheating is in their blood…#AUSvIND#kohli pic.twitter.com/x1m1BNxrZl
— ` (@FourOverthrows) December 16, 2018
History repeats itself again. A very bad decision by 3rd umpire which surely affect the result of this 2nd test.#Kohli #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/tfyiAQqOyi
— Bruce Patel (@BruceWayne_42) December 16, 2018
The key was that the fingers were underneath the ball but there was a gap in the fingers…..And therefore the umpires had to take a call on that. The cameras couldn't tell you more
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 16, 2018
The bottom line is that technology in such matters is inconclusive and will always be inconclusive because we are seeing a 3 dimensional event in 2 dimensions. And so the verdict tend to go with the on-field umpire.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 16, 2018
Last word from me. The reason the soft signal was introduced was that a lot of clean catches were being adjudged not out because the TV replays were inconclusive. To get over that, the soft signal became the benchmark which had to be conclusively overturned.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 16, 2018
Takes great catches to win Test matches … And the #Kohli catch was a beauty … Bounced off his finger into the hand … OUT … Good decision … #AUSvIND
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 16, 2018
#Kohli was not out.The ball touched the ground.Those who feel otherwise needs eye check up.
— Swarna Gouri Prasad (@GouriP16) December 16, 2018
Kohli was out or not out ? What do u say guys ??
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 16, 2018
