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Sanjay Manjrekar criticised the quality of evidence provided to the TV umpire after KL Rahul’s controversial dismissal.
IND vs AUS, 1t Test: KL Rahul was controversially given out (AP)
KL Rahul was controversially declared out on Friday, the first day of the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
The use of the DRS ignited a heated debate as former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar questioned the quality of technological support provided to the third umpire.
The incident occurred just before lunch as India were left reeling at 47/4 after skipper Jasprit Bumrah opted to bat first on winning the toss.
Rahul showed patience in his 74-ball 26 but was adjudged to be caught behind off Mitchell Starc on Australia’s Decision Review System (DRS).
On-field umpire Richard Kettleborough had surmised it not out but third umpire Richard Illingworth overturned the on-field decision based on Snicko, which showed a spike as the ball passed Rahul’s bat.
Rahul was not happy with the decision as he appeared visibly frustrated and walked off shaking his head. The noise was probably caused by KL’s bat hitting the pad instead of the ball.
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Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar questioned the decision.
“First of all, disappointed with what was provided to the TV umpire. He should have got more evidence. Based on just a couple of angles, I don’t think such an important decision in the match should have been made. My point is, with the naked eye there’s only one certainty and that’s the pad being hit by the bat. It’s the only visual certainty we’ve got that with the naked eye. For everything else, you needed the aid of technology, which is Snicko,” Manjrekar said on Star Sports.
“So ideally, if there was bat, as an edge to the ball, there should have been an earlier spike because clearly two events there, and the umpire obviously heard one noise. The visual certainty was bat hitting the pad. If that was the spike, then there wasn’t an outside edge. If we were shown two spikes, then you could say the first one was the bat. So it was a poor supply of technology to TV umpire, and he should have said he can’t nail it.”
“If there weren’t two spikes, they should have gone with the visual evidence which was bat hitting the pad. I think it was poor all around, and I don’t blame the on-field umpire. You got to feel for KL Rahul, the amount of hard work that’s been put opening the innings. And such a big moment personally for him when you look at his career and for India too. Travesty in a way,” Manjrekar added.