New Delhi: Australian captain Pat Cummins expressed that the third umpire made the correct call in declaring Yashasvi Jaiswal caught behind on Day 5 of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Cummins noted that Jaiswal’s head dropped after the decision was referred upstairs, which he interpreted as a sign that the batter had made contact with the ball.
Jaiswal top-scored for India with 84 in the chase of 340, but the visitors were bowled out for 155, losing by 184 runs. The left-hander’s dismissal was contentious, as he attempted a pull off Cummins and was adjudged caught behind.
The on-field umpire initially refrained from raising his finger, prompting Australia to take the DRS. While the Snickometer showed no spike, a deviation in the ball’s path led third umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat to overturn the decision.
While Jaiswal appeared frustrated with the verdict, Pat Cummins stood by the decision, stating that it was clear the Indian batter had made contact with the ball. He mentioned hearing a noise and noticing the deviation, which led him to believe Jaiswal had indeed hit it. Cummins also pointed out that Jaiswal’s reaction, where he dropped his head after the referral, suggested an acknowledgment of the contact.
In the midst of chasing 340, India found themselves struggling, losing three wickets for just 33 runs. However, Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant (30) managed to steady the ship, batting through the second session. Unfortunately, Pant’s dismissal early in the final session triggered a collapse, and the visitors were ultimately all out for 155.
Rohit Sharma, while agreeing with the umpire’s decision, expressed disappointment over the frequent close calls going against India. He noted that, despite the Snickometer not showing a clear spike, there was a visible deflection, and he felt the ball had touched the bat. “More often than not, we fall on the wrong side of such decisions,” Rohit lamented.
Jaiswal’s 84 off 208 balls was a resilient effort, including eight boundaries. He had also made a vital contribution in the first innings with 82 runs, but his knock ended in a run-out due to a mix-up with Virat Kohli.
