MUMBAI: Was it out or not? The question continues to boggle cricket despite all the technological encroachments the game has endured in recent times. Day 1 of the second Test against New Zealand saw yet another incident that left the house divided over Virat Kohli's dismissal for a duck at the Wankhede in the 29th over of the Indian innings.
Back after a break, the India captain pushed tentatively at a tossed-up delivery by left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel. The ball appeared to have struck the pad and the bat simultaneously and the on-field umpire Anil Chaudhari ruled it out. Kohli opted for the DRS option and that too proved inconclusive.
OUT, OR NOT OUT: A split frame of the DRS decision and snickometer suggested that Virat Kohli had edged the ball
Third umpire Virender Sharma, after watching multiple replays from every available angle, found no 'conclusive evidence' to overturn the on-field call and asked Chaudhari to stay with his decision. It was a tight call and Sharma seemed to be at his wits end as he forgot to ask for ball tracking, the final step in DRS, and had to be reminded by his colleagues in the middle.
A displeased Kohli tried to make his case but to no avail. Former cricketers weighed in, in the com box, studio and on social media. The official BCCI Twitter handle asked its followers to decide if 'it was out or not.' Not surprising, most Indian fans felt the third umpire was the villain of the piece.
Former New Zealand quick Simon Doull tried to make sense by explaining the law, only to be pilloried by the keyboard warriors.
"The TV umpire has to find conclusive evidence to overturn the decision of the on field umpire. There was no conclusive evidence that the ball hit the pad first. So, I think the process was followed. The process was right," Doull said on air.
