The Indian Premier League is going on in full swing with teams competing with each other to qualify for the last two spots for playoffs. While every match is turning out to be a thriller, on the other hand, the quality of umpiring has once again come under the scanner. In the ongoing second leg in the UAE, the third umpire has been making grave errors.
Recently, Rahul Tripathi taking a low catch to dismiss KL Rahul in the game against KKR came under the scanner. Several experts felt that it was a clean catch but the third umpire thought otherwise and gave the decision in favor of the batsman.
Now a few days after that, another incident has highlighted the poor umpiring standards. In the ongoing match between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Devdutt Padikkal was the man in question and this time it was the third umpire K Srinivasan.
Devdutt Padikkal was missing Ravi Bishnoi’s googlies constantly and hence, he finally decided to smash it for a reverse sweep. However, the RCB opener missed his shot, and eventually, the ball went straight in the hands of KL Rahul, behind the stumps.
The on-field umpire didn’t give it out and KL Rahul was quick to go for a review having heard the ball brush the gloves. In the review, the ultra edge showed a spike when the ball was close to the gloves. The third umpire left everyone shocked as he was heard saying, “There is no bat involved.”
The third umpire didn’t consider the spike off the glove and directed the on-field umpire to stay with his decision. As a result, KL Rahul was left fuming complaining about not checking the spike on the ultra edge. To make things even worse for the Punjab side, they lost their only review thanks to the poor decision.
Meanwhile, fans were quick to come up with reactions on the incident and soon social media was buzzing about the umpiring standards in the ongoing season. Several cricketers and experts also joined the bandwagon and reacted to the incident. There were many who came up with hilarious memes and jokes while trolling the umpires.
Here, check out the reactions of Twitterati on this:
Kumble barging into third ump room as we speak
— absy (@absycric) October 3, 2021
DRS can’t eliminate howlers if umpires ignore what it says. ? #RCBvPBKS
— Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) October 3, 2021
Sack the 3rd umpire immediately #SelectDugout
What a joke!
— Scott Styris (@scottbstyris) October 3, 2021
How was that Not Out??? #Devdutt #IPL2021 #RCBvPBKD
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 3, 2021
Who trains umpires in India? Why have they been so incompetent for so many years, with the odd exception. How can they not be properly trained for a tournament as big as the IPL? Just baffles me. #IPL2021 #RCBvPBKS
— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) October 3, 2021
Terrible umpiring, mistakes like that is unforgivable with so much technology and help these days! #RCBvsPBKS #IPL2021
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) October 3, 2021
What qualifies as a spike on Ultra Edge? #RCBvsPBKS
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) October 3, 2021
Now y’all understand what he meant. pic.twitter.com/1cTLXSf2as
— Heisenberg (@internetumpire) October 3, 2021
Flat line? Whats happening?#IPL2021 #RCBvsPBKS
— Abhinav mukund (@mukundabhinav) October 3, 2021
I tweeted this in 2018. Every year, incompetent umpires get high profile, high paying IPL gigs. Nandan, Vineet Kulkarni & many others in the past. Dandekar the other night, K Srinivasan today. This does damage the IPL’s credibility. Someone at the BCCI needs to sort this out. https://t.co/BzFQBZmLDf
— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) October 3, 2021
https://twitter.com/Nishantmandeli/status/1444615479641853955?s=20
Does “spirit of cricket” include batters walking out when know they nicked a ball or at least when the DRS on the giant screen confirms the same? #staraikelungal
— Jagan Santhanam (@jagansanthanam) October 3, 2021
How on earth this was not given out despite going upstairs and challenging on-field umpires decision??
Question by many Cricket Fans now :
What’s the use of DRS and Technology??#RCBvPBKS pic.twitter.com/Rekxb67tav— Nilesh G (@oye_nilesh) October 3, 2021
What is the use of having DRS, if 3rd umpire is high ??
— Jatin (@Jatingrover_7) October 3, 2021
Umpiring rules need to be reviewed. What is benifit of DRS if Umpire still took wrong decision. Umpire should also get points on the basis of performances. @ICC @BCCI #IPL2021
— Le_Sarcastic (@Ihtesham2208) October 3, 2021