In a bizarre turn of events, Team India were denied an LBW referral after the umpires had begun the DRS process during the third and final T20I against Australia at SCG on Tuesday (December 8).

During the 11th over of Australia’s innings, T Natarajan hit Matthew Wade on the pad and umpire Rod Tucker declined the LBW appeal.

Subsequently, the visitors opted for the DRS, which Tucker accepted, even as Wade and non-striker Glenn Maxwell pointed out that the replay was shown on the giant screen.

Third umpire Paul Wilson also started with the process and then bailed out, hinting that India were late in taking the review.

While India skipper Virat Kohli walked up to the on-field umpires for clarification, the decision could not be changed.

Later, the TV replay confirmed that Wade would have been out LBW had the referral been accepted.

Reacting on this incident, veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle tweeted: “The referral against Wade raises an interesting question. If the big screen shows the replay within the time allotted for the referral, can you disallow the referral? In this case we need to see the timer but the question is valid.”

Sharing his two cents on the same, New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham wrote on Twitter: “How good! Batter misses a leg stump half volley. Bowler doesn’t appeal. Keeper turns down the review. Big screen dude plays the replay too early. Umpire accepts the review until the batter complains. That’s gotta be the most mistakes made in a 20 second window in all cricket.”

Former India opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra supported the third umpire for his call.

“Right decision made. Can’t have the review after the replays are on the big screen. But was it up earlier than it should have been??? Or was it played only after 15 seconds had lapsed??,” Chopra wrote.