During the post-match presentation of the World Test Championship, the Indian crowd expressed their disapproval towards Richard Kettleborough, the third umpire of the match, due to his decisions throughout the game. Richard has been regarded as a potential threat to Team India in crucial matches, as he was also the third umpire in the 2019 World Cup semi-final, the 2021 WTC Final, and the 2023 WTC Final, all of which resulted in India’s loss.
While Richard cannot solely be held responsible for India’s defeats, it is imperative for him to make accurate umpiring decisions. Indian cricket fans have also voiced their criticism of him on social media, particularly for the incorrect decision made regarding Shubhman’s dismissal in the second innings of the match. Although Cameron Gill took the catch at slip, the ball seemingly touched the ground, but Richard gave it out. Some cricket experts argue that it should have been ruled not out.
During the presentation ceremony, when the umpires were called on stage, Indian fans expressed their displeasure by booing when Richard Kettleborough’s name was announced. Numerous cricketers and former cricketers also expressed disappointment with Richard’s umpiring decisions. Shubhman shared a story on his Instagram account, clearly showing that the ball had made contact with the ground. Mohammad Shami also commented on the controversial decision made by Richard.
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag criticized the umpire’s decision on his Twitter account, mocking Richard Kettleborough by sharing an image of a blindfolded man. Sehwag captioned it, “Third umpire while making that decision of Shubman Gill. Inconclusive evidence. When in doubt, it’s Not Out.”
— Rahul Chauhan (@ImRahulCSK11) June 12, 2023
Even the Indian captain expressed his disappointment with the decision, believing that the umpire should have taken more time and reviewed additional angles before reaching a final verdict. Rohit Sharma stated, “I just felt disappointed. I mean, the third umpire should have seen a little more replays, a little more of, you know, how the catch has been held.” He further added, “It’s not just about whether it was given out or not out, you need to have proper and clear information about anything. It’s not just about the catch; it can be about anything.”