Dharmasena's signal probably kept England from taking the DRS review against Sudharsan.
Umpire Kumar Dharmasena has come under fire from former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar for making an odd on-field gesture on the opening day of the fifth and final Test match between India and England at The Oval. The Sri Lankan umpire appeared to signal an inside edge to England’s players mid-appeal, a moment that has sparked debate across the cricketing world.
The incident happened during India's first innings in the thirteenth over. Josh Tongue of England hit Sai Sudharsan in the pad with a crisp inswinging yorker. Following a vociferous LBW protest from the England players, Dharmasena shook his head and then made a finger signal that appeared to suggest an inside edge.
Sudharsan did hit the ball, albeit a faint nick, as replays verified, but the mid-appeal gesture raised questions. There was a possibility that England would have taken a DRS review and wasted it, but we were spared one thanks to Dharmasena’s signal.
On Star Sports commentary, Bangar didn't hold back: "These habits do not go away because it is second nature that whenever there is an appeal, you try to say it. When Dharmasena started umpiring, there was no DRS, but now you don't have to give any signal as to what's in your mind. That little hint gives the bowling team insight into what the umpire is thinking. He should not have done it."
See here:
Bangar's direct evaluation highlights a larger worry regarding objectivity and clarity in contemporary umpiring, particularly in light of the DRS system's implementation, which eliminates the need for such indications.