Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting said that the right decision was made regarding Shubman Gill being adjudged caught by Cameron Green on Day 4 of the World Test Championship (WTC) final. He also stated that there will be a lot of debate on this, with most of the talk coming from India only. However, Gill was given out for 18 by TV umpire Richard Kettleborough just before Tea on Day 4 of the Test at The Oval off Scott Boland and Green dived to his left and picked a stunner.

However, Gill stood his ground, following which the decision was referred upstairs as well. However, Green grabbed the ball very close to the ground and the third umpire concluded that the fielder had his hands under the ball and given Gill out. But most of the fans and other cricket pundits believe the decision was wrong as well.

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Sharing his views on the decision, Ricky Ponting told ICC: “When I saw it live, I knew it had carried to him on the full, but I wasn’t sure what the action was after that from all replays we have seen. I actually think some part of the ball did touch the ground and it is the interpretation of the umpire that as long as the fielder has complete control of the ball before the ball hits the ground then it is out. That must have been what the umpires’ interpretation was and I think that is exactly what happened. It carried probably six or eight inches off the ground then there was another action after that.”

Ponting also shared that the decision is likely to divide opinion, claiming that the debate will be a bigger one in India than in Australia as well. Notably, Gill’s dismissal ended a good opening stand of 41 after India were set a huge target of 444 to win the WTC final as well.

He commented: “There will be a lot of talk about it I am sure and there will probably be more talk in India than in Australia. Everyone in India will think it is not out and everyone in Australia will think it is out. If it had have been given out on the field then I think the third umpire has to find conclusive evidence to overturn that decision and I don’t think there would have been conclusive evidence. The reason I am saying that is, even without the soft signal, the third umpire thought it was out. At the end of the day I think the correct decision has probably been made.”

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However, Ricky Ponting also backed the ICC’s decision to do away with the soft signal. Notably, India finished Day 4 of the WTC final at 164/3, needing a further 280 for the win on the final day of the WTC Final 2023 as well.

“I was happy for that soft signal to be taken out of the game…I think there was too many of those that seemed irrelevant. Everyone will say now that without the soft signal it is going to what technology can see and technology can provide, but at the end of the day it is still the third umpire making the decision on what he can see,” Ricky Ponting concluded.