KL Rahul’s dismissal on Day 1 of the 1st Test at Optus Stadium in Perth has sparked a heated debate in the cricketing world.
The controversial decision to give Rahul out has divided opinions, with many former Indian cricketers expressing anger over the third umpire’s call
The incident occurred during the 23rd over of India’s innings, a time when the team was already struggling after losing three quick wickets.
Rahul, who had made a steady 26, was trying to weather the storm and tire the Australian bowlers on the challenging, bouncy Perth pitch. He attempted to defend a delivery from Mitchell Starc that angled across him.
The ball narrowly missed his bat and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
The Australian team immediately appealed, and the on-field umpires ruled it not out. However, after a review, a spike appeared on the Snicko, suggesting that the ball made contact with Rahul’s bat.
The problem arose, however, because it wasn’t clear if the noise came from the pad or the bat first. Despite the uncertainty, the third umpire upheld the on-field decision and gave Rahul out.
Many argued that the lack of a clear front-on camera angle left room for doubt, and that Rahul should have been given the benefit of the uncertainty.
The decision has stirred strong reactions, with critics feeling that the ambiguity in the evidence should have worked in the batter’s favor.
