Controversial Umpiring Decisions Overshadow India vs England Test at Lord's

Umpiring Controversies Emerge During Fourth Day of Test

On the fourth day of the Test match between India and England at Lord's, umpiring decisions once again sparked controversy. The Indian team faced the brunt of these calls, although the Decision Review System (DRS) provided some relief. Field umpire Paul Rifle's decisions were particularly contentious, leading to visible frustration from the Indian players at one point.

Shubman Gill's Dismissal Raises Eyebrows

During India's second innings, Shubman Gill was given out caught off the first ball of Brydon Carse's 15th over. However, Gill successfully reviewed the decision, revealing that the ball had not touched his bat. Despite this, umpire Paul Rifle initially ruled him out, only to later reverse his decision. This was not the only questionable call from Rifle, as he had previously made a controversial decision against India during England's innings.

Another Disputed Call Involves Joe Root

In England's second innings, a significant appeal for LBW against Joe Root from a delivery by Mohammed Siraj was turned down by Rifle. India opted for a review, but the on-field decision stood due to the umpire's call, which left the Indian team disappointed. The ball appeared to be hitting the stumps, but the decision tilted the match's balance in favor of England, causing frustration among Indian fans.

Previous Day's Controversies

The third day of the match also saw uproar over the decisions made by Bangladeshi umpire Saikat Sharifuddoula. He ruled Akash Deep LBW on his first delivery, but DRS saved him. Shortly after, he was again given out LBW, but a successful review meant he remained not out.