The Border-Gavaskar Trophy continued to be marred by controversial umpiring decisions as Akash Deep’s dismissal on Day 5 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) raised eyebrows among fans and experts. The batter was given out caught by Travis Head off Scott Boland’s bowling, a decision that seemed questionable despite technological evidence.
The incident occurred when Scott Boland bowled a back-of-a-length delivery that jagged back in sharply. Akash Deep attempted to block the ball, and it lobbed off his pads into the hands of Travis Head at short leg. Australian captain Pat Cummins and his teammates began celebrating immediately, prompting the umpire to rule the batter out.
Australia’s review showcased a spike on Snicko as the ball passed close to Akash Deep’s bat. However, replays showed no visible deflection of the ball from the bat, contradicting the Snicko evidence. Despite the apparent lack of conclusive proof, the third umpire upheld the on-field decision, triggering another wave of frustration among Indian fans.
The decision has been labeled “another poor call” by cricket enthusiasts, given the discrepancy between the Snicko spike and the lack of any visible deflection. Social media platforms were abuzz with criticism of the umpiring standards, with many questioning the reliance on technology without a thorough assessment of all evidence.
This is the second controversial dismissal of the day, following Yashasvi Jaiswal’s glove-based dismissal that left Sunil Gavaskar and fans fuming over the use—or misuse—of technology. In Akash Deep’s case, the Snicko evidence seemed contradictory, as no clear deflection was observed on video.
With such decisions piling up, the spotlight has once again turned to the standards of umpiring in high-stakes matches. Fans and experts alike are questioning the consistency and accuracy of decision-making, especially in light of available technological tools like Snicko and UltraEdge.
While the decision favored Australia, it left the Indian camp visibly frustrated. With two wickets remaining, the hosts are closing in on a series-clinching victory, but the match’s integrity has been called into question due to a string of debatable umpiring calls.
