The debate around the catch of Shubman Gill taken by Cameron Green in India’s second innings of the WTC Final at The Oval continues to rage on with fans and experts taking sides with their explanations.
With India in an improbable chase of 444 runs to win the Ultimate Test, at the stroke of Tea on Day 4, Shubman Gill edged pacer Scott Boland in the slip. Cameron Green, standing at gully, leapt down from gully with his left-hand scooping up the ball. In his movements of taking the catch, Green’s hand brushed the grass and he was on the ground.
There are two talking points in this debate: whether the ball touched the grass through Green’s fingers, and whether he was in “complete control” of the ball and the catch. After much deliberations, watching of replays from different angles, the third umpire sided with Green and gave Shubman Gill OUT, while many Indian fans and a section of non-Indians thought that the batsman should have been given the benefit of the doubt and Shubman Gill should have stayed not out.
Here are 5 big names in the cricket fraternity who have spoken in support of Shubman Gill in this controversial catch by Cameron Green:
Mohammed Shami
India seamer Mohammed Shami was displeased with the third umpire. Shami said the third umpire could have taken more time to make his decision.
“Yes, one could have taken some time, it’s the World Test Championship final, not a normal match that you let go,” Shami said. “It should have been checked better, zoomed in, but it’s okay, it’s part of the game.”
Virender Sehwag
Former India opener Virender Sehwag was certain that Shubman Gill was not out. He also trolled the third umpire with a funny meme.
Ravi Shastri
Former India head coach and a commentator in the WTC Final 2023, Ravi Shastri feels that there was a great chance of the ball touching the grass through the gap between Green’s split fingers.
“One thing needs to be remembered, and this happened with [Virat] Kohli as well in Perth when [Marnus] Labuschagne had taken the catch. When the fingers split and come downwards, the ball will definitely touch the grass,” Shastri told Star Sports.
“If three fingers are together and then the angle is shown, then there are chances of the hand being underneath the ball. But, as you can see, the fingers were split,” he added.
Sunil Gavaskar
Gavaskar echoed Shastri’s views and said that the catch is completed only when the fielder is in a normal position.
“When you land after taking a catch and if the ball is touching the ground during the process, then it is not out. People say that the catch was completed when the fielder held the ball. But no, the catch is completely when you stand straight [after taking the catch],” Gavaskar said.
“If you say that this catch has been completed, then when a fielder goes beyond the boundary after completing a catch, why is it called a six?” he added.
Harsha Bhogle
Renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle, whose opinions on the game are considered with great reverance, suggested that Shubman Gill had reasons to be unhappy with the third umpire’s call.
