India positioned themselves for another triumph to conclude the five-match Test series against England in Dharamsala, dismissing the visitors for a mere 218 runs before skipper Rohit Sharma took charge against the new ball.
Displaying his trademark elegance, Sharma showcased an array of backfoot punches, straight drives, and hooks against Mark Wood. However, his innings was nearly curtailed by a glaring umpiring error, only for the Decision Review System (DRS) to intervene.
James Anderson delivered a length ball angled down Sharma’s hips in the seventh over, resulting in a slight noise as it passed by the batsman en route to Ben Foakes’ gloves. The England team, led by Anderson, vehemently appealed, prompting umpire Joel Wilson to belatedly raise his finger despite initial indifference.
Surprised by the decision, Sharma quickly signaled for a review, visibly amused and raising questions with a gesture, possibly accompanied by a few choice words.
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Replays confirmed Sharma’s innocence, showing clear daylight between bat and ball. However, despite the correct decision being made, social media clamored for more than just rectification given the magnitude of the umpiring blunder.