If we say something, it is not accepted well. But if there is not conclusive evidence, it has to stand with the umpire’s on-field decision.
Rishabh Pant’s dismissal during India’s fourth-innings pursuit has emerged as a pivotal moment in the Mumbai Test. He was ruled out caught bat-pad, with the Decision Review System (DRS) overturning the on-field umpire’s ruling, leaving India captain Rohit Sharma uncertain about the correctness of the decision. Pant, who scored 64 runs off 57 balls, was crucial in preventing New Zealand from achieving a historic 3-0 series sweep, as India found themselves at 106 for 6, just 41 runs shy of their target. Ultimately, New Zealand secured victory by 25 runs.
Regarding the dismissal, Rohit commented after the match, “To be honest, I am unsure. If we express our views, they are often not well-received. However, if there is no conclusive evidence, the on-field umpire’s decision should prevail. That is what I have been informed. Therefore, I am perplexed as to how that decision was overturned, given that the umpire did not initially rule him out. The bat was evidently close to the pad. Thus, I am uncertain whether it is appropriate for me to discuss this further. It is a matter for the umpires to consider. Consistency in the application of rules across all teams is essential; they should not be subject to change.”
Earlier in the day, New Zealand had missed an opportunity to review an lbw appeal against Pant when India was at 59 for 5, with replays indicating three reds on that occasion. Later, in the 22nd over, Ajaz Patel made two appeals against Pant, first for a catch at slip, which the on-field decision deemed not out, a ruling that DRS confirmed.
Just two balls later, Ajaz noticed Pant advancing out of his crease, adjusted his length, and compelled the batter into a defensive shot. Pant had previously found success by coming down the track, often striking the ball powerfully to the boundary. In this instance, he had little option but to adapt, resulting in the ball deflecting off him into the wicketkeeper’s gloves. Ajaz and the close-in fielders believed there was an inside edge onto his front pad, but Umpire Richard Illingworth disagreed. New Zealand captain Tom Latham opted to review the decision.
A spike was detected on UltraEdge when the ball appeared to have passed the bat. However, the bat and pad were in close proximity at that moment, suggesting that the spike might have resulted from the bat brushing against the pad.
As the replays were displayed on the large screen, the New Zealand team began to celebrate. Until that moment, Pant seemed unfazed; he had performed a double glove-touch with his batting partner, Washington Sundar, as soon as New Zealand opted for a review, which was their final one. He then approached the on-field officials with his hand outstretched. Third umpire Paul Reiffel, in his assessment, acknowledged that the spike could have originated from the bat striking the pad. However, after reviewing the footage again and analyzing the moment when the bat, pad, and ball were in close proximity, he revised his decision based on what he perceived as a deflection as the ball passed the bat.
Latham elaborated on New Zealand’s rationale regarding the dismissal during the post-match press conference. “Several of us heard two distinct sounds, and in such situations, we defer to the umpire’s judgment,” he stated. “We do not have access to the footage that the third umpire reviews, so that aspect is beyond our control. We clearly heard a couple of noises and opted to take the review, which ultimately worked in our favor, but the decision rests with the umpires. It is out of our hands.”
New Zealand had significantly reduced India to 29 for 5 on a challenging pitch and appeared to be strong favorites for victory. However, Pant managed to shift the momentum temporarily, and Rohit believed that his dismissal was pivotal to the match’s outcome. “That dismissal was extremely critical from our perspective. Rishabh was in excellent form at that stage, and it seemed he would guide us through. Unfortunately, he got out, and shortly thereafter, we were bowled out.”
