Controversial Catch Decision Casts Doubt in Shubman Gill’s Dismissal
By Shubham Khare June 10, 2023
On the fourth day of the exhilarating World Test Championship Final, a contentious catch decision has sparked debate and disappointment at The Oval. Shubman Gill, at the stroke of tea, fell victim to a catch taken by Cameron Green in slips off the bowling of Scott Boland. However, it was the aftermath of the catch that left both teams and commentators questioning the legitimacy of the dismissal.
As the ball found the edge of Gill’s bat, it flew towards the tall figure of Cameron Green, who dove to his left and managed to hold onto the catch with a spectacular one-handed effort. The real controversy emerged as Green rolled over upon completing the catch. The question raised by Ricky Ponting, commentating on the ICC feed, was whether the ball had touched the ground during this movement.
Ponting, Sangakkara, Ravi Shastri surprised
Ponting expressed his doubt, saying, “The ball went into his hand maybe 6-8 inches above the ground, but the question I have is, did any part of the ball touch the ground just after the catch was completed? That’s what Rohit Sharma appears to be discussing with the umpires, and it’s likely why Shubman Gill is visibly disappointed.”
Kumar Sangakkara, also commentating on the incident, shared similar concerns. “It’s all about how you interpret it. Green did catch the ball with his fingers underneath, but if any part of the ball touched the ground, it could be perceived as assistance in keeping the ball in his hand. Umpires tend to give the benefit of the doubt in such cases,” Sangakkara remarked.
Even Ravi Shastri, India’s former head coach commentating in the WTC Final, raised the same query. “The third umpire believed the fingers were under the ball, but the crucial question remains whether the ball rolled over after the catch was completed,” Shastri stated.
The doubt surrounding Gill’s dismissal centers on whether the ball maintained contact with the ground during Green’s rolling motion. If any part of the ball touched the surface, it could be deemed as the ball being aided to stay in the fielder’s hand, potentially leading to the decision being overturned. Nonetheless, the third umpire gave Shubman Gill out as India lost their first wicket while chasing a mammoth target of 444.
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