The talking point on Friday was the controversy around the Ravindra Jadeja dismissal that left India fuming.
In the second Test match between India and West Indies in Port-of-Spain, a contentious moment arose when Ravindra Jadeja was dismissed during India's first innings at 360 for 5 in the 104th over. The Jadeja dismissal came under scrutiny as broadcast commentators raised questions about the accuracy of the Decision Review System (DRS) process. However, a clarification was subsequently issued, attributing the incident to a “glitch” in the system rather than any fault of the umpires or the technology itself.
The incident occurred when West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach tempted Jadeja with a delivery wide outside the off stump. Jadeja, on 61 off 152 balls, opted to drive away from his body but seemed unsure of whether he had made contact with the ball. The on-field umpire, Marais Erasmus, remained expressionless, while wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva appeared confident in his appeal.
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West Indies chose to challenge the not-out decision, and the DRS process was set in motion. The initial spin-vision replay indicated that the bat and ball were close together, prompting the TV umpire, Michael Gough, to seek further assistance from UltraEdge technology.
What was the controversy around the Jadeja dismissal?
This is where the controversy arose. The UltraEdge replay that was presented seemed to show a different shot played by Jadeja, one where his bat was closer to his front pad, resulting in a clear spike on the technology. However, upon careful examination, it became apparent that the replay depicted a straight-bat shot, rather than the actual shot played by Jadeja, which resembled more of an extra-cover drive. In reality, as the ball passed the outside edge of Jadeja's bat, his bat was visibly away from his pad.
#WIvIND#WTC25 #jadeja#ViratKohli𓃵 @BCCI @windiescricket
— Pritesh Gangurde (@its_pritesh_18) July 21, 2023
What's going on 🤔
Two different footages about Jadeja dismissal 🤐🙊 pic.twitter.com/ncmZkbYvkC
Despite this anomaly, Umpire Gough was satisfied with the evidence presented by UltraEdge, indicating an edge, and he subsequently asked Umpire Erasmus to reverse his decision. Jadeja, though surprised by the verdict, accepted the decision and walked off the field without protest.
The controversy reached its resolution during the tea analysis show, where broadcast commentators, including Daren Ganga, offered an explanation for the confusion. Ganga provided viewers with the correct replay of the wicket delivery, showcasing that there was no contact between the bat and the pad, thus affirming that the right decision was ultimately made. He clarified that the glitch in the DRS process led to the incorrect presentation of the UltraEdge replay, which showed the wrong shot played by Jadeja.
Acknowledging the glitch, Ganga emphasized that there was no fault on the part of the umpires or the DRS system itself. It was simply an unfortunate technical issue that caused the confusion and led to the incorrect replay being shown.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding Ravindra Jadeja's dismissal in the second Test between India and West Indies was clarified as a “glitch” in the DRS process. Although the incorrect UltraEdge replay initially caused confusion, the correct decision was eventually reached after a thorough examination of the actual replay, ensuring that the integrity of the game remained intact.
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West Indies push India in the second Test
In Port-of-Spain, the second Test between West Indies and India witnessed captivating performances. India's skipper, Virat Kohli, ended his five-year wait for an away Test century, leading his team to a commanding total of 438, supported by Ravindra Jadeja's valuable half-century.
In response, West Indies showed resilience with Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul's solid half-century opening partnership. However, Jadeja's late strike dismissed Chanderpaul, leaving West Indies at 86/1, still 352 runs behind. The stage is set for a thrilling day three, as both teams compete to gain control in this gripping Test match.
