The 48th match of IPL 2021 between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) was marred by controversy as the third umpire erred while making a huge DRS call.
RCB opener Devdutt Padikkal was handed a lifeline despite the replays showing a clear contact between his gloves and the ball.
The incident took place in the 8th over of RCB’s innings bowled by Ravi Bishnoi. PBKS made a caught-behind appeal but the on-field umpire remained unmoved, promoting skipper KL Rahul to opt for the DRS.
Even though the replays showed a spike on the ultraedge, the third umpire decided against turning the on-field umpire's decision.
Former India cricketers Ajay Jadeja and Ashish Nehra reflected on the incident during a discussion on Cricbuzz and both were of the opinion that it should have been given out. The two also highlighted the problems in current DRS technology and rules.
"DRS is absolutely bad. Tell me one thing, you had put DRS because umpire can sometimes make mistakes. Then get some technology that does not make mistakes. If a machine is making mistake, then why have you placed that man on the field - he is not holding the caps anymore, he is no longer calling the no balls - when he says out, you believe it to be not out," Jadeja said.
"The concept has perhaps been created of how much deflection is visible. Same for LBW - either the ball just touched the stumps or knocked down entire stumps. But then you say that is umpire's call. It has just touched the down. This will remain till there are two thought patterns for all instances of fine line margins. But if you ask me, I noticed the deflection, so I feel it was out," he added.
Padikkal was batting on 35 when the incident happened and he went on to score 40 before getting out in the 12th over.
Sharing his two cents on this matter, Nehra said: "If you ask me, it was out. Once KKR's Rahul Tripathi picked a catch of KL Rahul during a match. I am not a big fan of concepts of soft signals. The umpires are standing far away, and they sometimes are unable to see all the things happening on the field. So, if you have placed a third umpire, I feel they should make entire judgment on it. But then again, sometimes there are doubts even on camera whether the ball had hit the ground or not, so sometimes benefit of doubts are given to batsman."
"But today, there was no benefit of doubts. There was a clear spike on the screen. KL Rahul had picked a great catch, but third umpire gave it not out," he further remarked.
