BGT: KL Rahul’s dismissal sparks controversy as Manjrekar calls out debatable DRS decision in Perth Test

KL Rahul’s dismissal in the first innings in Perth sparked controversy as he fell prey to a debatable DRS call just before lunch on day one of the first BGT Test. Rahul opened alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal after India elected to bat first against Australia in the series opener, looking in control of his game but got out to a decision he and many others, including broadcaster Sanjay Manjrekar, felt was wrong and taken in a rush.

India got all out on 150 inside two sessions on day one of the Perth Test.

The visitors were 47 for three when Mitchell Starc bowled a Jaffa to get rid of Rahul on 26. Everyone jumped up to celebrate his dismissal, with the hosts asking for a DRS call after the umpire adjudged it not out.

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Though at first it looked out, with replays and Snickometer showing a huge deviation and spike, another angle, front view, showed his bat hit his pad as the ball crossed the willow.

Upon reviewing the replays twice or thrice, the third umpire without much evidence going for or against it, asked the on-field official Richard Kettleborough to overturn his original decision of not out to out. 

Surprised by the umpires’ decision, Rahul looked stunned, and so did the commentators, who argued that the third umpire should have taken a good look from all angles before adjudging Rahul out. The India batter also expressed displeasure upon returning, subtly though, indicating there was a gap between bat and ball, and the spike is when the bat hit the pad. However, another angle showed that the ball nicked the bat, and the decision stands right. 

Manjrekar calls out lapse in technology

Manjrekar, sitting in the commentary box, said he was disappointed with the call, further noting that this would be an important decision in deciding this match's result. 

"First of all, disappointed with what was provided to the TV umpire. He should have got more evidence. Based on just a couple of angles, I don't think such an important decision in the match should have been made. 

"So ideally, if there was a bat, as an edge to the ball, there should have been an earlier spike because clearly two events there and the umpire obviously heard one noise. The visual certainty was the bat hitting the pad. If that was the spike, then there wasn't an outside edge. If we were shown two spikes, then you could say the first one was the bat. So it was a poor supply of technology to TV umpire, and he should have said he can't nail it,” the former India batter said while talking on Star Sports.

Meanwhile, Australia wrapped up India’s first innings on 150, with Josh Hazlewood returning with four wickets, while Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Marsh all bagged two each. 

(With inputs from agencies)