Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav’s controversial dismissal during the fourth T20I match between India and England has sparked debate among the cricketers and now the latest one is Parthiv Patel, who believes there is no need for a soft signal in the game of cricket.
Suryakumar made his India debut in the second T20I but didn’t get to bat and then was dropped from the third T20I, but he finally got his chance in the fourth T20I and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands but was unlucky to be dismissed shortly after his fifty on Thursday (March 18).
The sensational batter was forced to walk back to the pavilion by Sam Curran following a controversial call made by the third umpire after Dawid Malan claimed a diving catch forward at fine leg in the 14th over of India's innings in the fourth T20I of the ongoing five-match T20I series in Ahmedabad.
The right-handed batsman tried to play a ramp shot off all-rounder Curran but ended up getting caught out by Malan and the on-field umpire gave his soft signal as OUT.
Later, the replays showed that the ball seemed to have touched the ground when Malan was taking the catch, but the third umpire stayed with the on-field umpire’s decision citing “lack of conclusive evidence” that the catch was not taken cleanly by the English fielder.
Unfortunately, Suryakumar’s entertaining innings was cut short as he smashed a blistering maiden fifty (31-ball 57) studded six fours and three sixes, and powered India to 185/8 – which the hosts eventually defended and won the game by 8 runs to level the series 2-2 on Thursday in Ahmedabad.
Reacting to the controversial dismissal, Patel said cricket doesn’t need a soft signal while suggesting the third umpire should be the only one taking a call on the appeals which are referred to him.
Parthiv said on Star Sports: “If I have to answer that straight, I don’t think cricket needs a soft signal. You have got to be straightforward. Either it’s out or not out. If you are not sure, go to the third umpire and tell ‘you make your own decision’. ‘We have not seen it, you make your own decision’. That was the case before.”
He signed off, “You have got to understand that does not mean you’re not out. When the field umpire goes to the third umpire without any soft signal, that doesn’t mean that you’re not. It’s a decision that the third umpire has to make because ‘we don’t know what happened on the field’.”
Noteworthy, India and England will now lock horns in the final T20I on Saturday (March 20) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad with the winner will lift the T20I trophy.
