Former cricketers and fans have expressed shock over the third umpire’s decision to rule India batter KL Rahul out in the Perth Test against Australia on Friday. Rahul was initially given not out by the on-field umpire on the second ball of the 23rd over of India’s innings. However, Australia took a review and the third umpire gave the decision in their favour. The video replay showed the ball going past close to the bat and the bat also struck Rahul’s pad in the follow through. The Snickometer showed a snick and the umpire felt it was the ball touching the bat.
Critising the third umpire’s decision, Uthappa wrote on X: “How a third umpire makes a decision without accessing all angles!! Poor!! Just Piss poor!! #BGT2025”.
How a third umpire makes a decision without accessing all angles!! Poor!! Just Piss poor!! #BGT2025
— Robbie Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) November 22, 2024
Former cricketers and fans’ reaction on X
Former India cricketer Dodda Ganesh also expressed his dismay over the third umpire’s decision. Taking to X, he wrote: “KL Rahul may have nicked it or may not have; but the modus operandi employed to declare him out was diabolical especially when the on-field decision was not-out #AUSvIND”.
A fan took a dig at Australia broadcasters and posted: “the way kl rahul was given out now it’s hilarious just a month back what big clowns we were. entire indian cricket fan community rawdogged australian cricket broadcast like ohh how sharp, how great quality, crystal clear coverage. none of that shit helped. broad daylight robbery!”
Earlier, India captain Jasprit Bumrah won the toss and opted to bat first. However, the decision seems to have backfired as the visitors suffered early blows and were under pressure at 51/4 in 25 overs. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck in the third over of the innings when the team total was only 5 runs. He was caught in the gully off the bowling of Mitchell Starc. Devdutt Padikkal who made it to the playing XI in place of Shubman Gill, had a horrific stay at the crease and was dismissed for a duck after 23 balls. With the visitors being 14/2 , the onus of steadying the ship fell on Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. Kohli fell to Hazlewood and Rahul to Starc and India were 47/4.
