A surprising gesture from umpire Kumar Dharmasena during the Oval Test between India and England sparked debate, with former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar criticizing the official’s conduct.
Umpire’s Controversial Signal
The incident occurred on the opening day of the 5th Test during the 13th over. England’s Josh Tongue bowled to Sai Sudharsan, and the ball struck the batter’s pads, leading to a loud appeal from the English team.
However, umpire Kumar Dharmasena appeared to make a gesture indicating that the ball had hit the inside edge before striking the pads. This unofficial signal was crucial, as it likely prevented England from wasting a valuable DRS review.
Sanjay Bangar’s Reaction
Former India batter Sanjay Bangar expressed his displeasure with Dharmasena’s action, especially in the age of the Decision Review System (DRS). He emphasized that umpires should refrain from signaling their initial thoughts on a dismissal.
Bangar noted that such habits are ingrained in umpires, especially those who began their careers before DRS was commonplace. “You are not supposed to give a signal on what’s going on in your mind,” he stated on Star Sports.
He explained that such gestures can inadvertently provide the bowling team with a hint about the umpire’s decision, potentially influencing their choice to review. “The umpire should not have done that,” Bangar concluded.
India’s Challenging Start
Beyond the umpiring controversy, India faced a tough start to the final Test. Rain interruptions limited play, and the visitors struggled to build momentum against England’s bowling attack.
Opening batter Shubman Gill’s dismissal via a run-out was a significant blow, further tilting the series in England’s favor. Yashasvi Jaiswal was trapped LBW by Gus Atkinson, and KL Rahul chopped on while attempting a cut shot off Chris Woakes.
Despite the early wickets, Sai Sudharsan showed resilience, eventually scoring a gritty 38 runs before being caught behind off Josh Tongue’s bowling.
Overcast Conditions and Series Stakes
The overcast conditions at The Oval were ideal for England’s seam bowlers, who looked lively even without captain Ben Stokes and rested paceman Jofra Archer. India, needing a victory to level the series, found themselves under pressure with their most prolific batsmen back in the pavilion.
The rain-hit day highlighted the challenging conditions for batting. With the pitch offering assistance to the seamers, the odds stacked against the tourists as England’s attack continued to press for more wickets.
- Umpire Kumar Dharmasena made an unofficial “inside edge” gesture during an LBW appeal against Sai Sudharsan.
- Former India batter Sanjay Bangar criticized the gesture, stating umpires should not give hints in the DRS era.
- India had a difficult start to the Test, losing key wickets including a run-out for Shubman Gill.
- Sai Sudharsan’s 38 runs provided some stability amid challenging overcast conditions.
The incident served as a reminder of the subtle dynamics that can play out on a cricket field, even off the ball, and how they can impact a team’s strategy, particularly concerning DRS usage.
