India opener KL Rahul was dismissed under controversial circumstances during the first Test between India and Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Friday.
The batter was initially given not out by the onfield umpire after Australia appealed for a caught behind dismissal. Upon review, the third umpire adjudged the batter to have nicked the ball following a spike on Ultra Edge despite the batting seeming to hit the pad at the same instant.
Despite requesting a front-on angle, the third umpire was forced to go with the inconclusive angle from behind the stumps to make a decision.
Rahul looked distraught after the decision was reversed, indicating that he hadn’t edged the ball. In general practice, if the evidence provided to the third umpire is inconclusive, the decision made by the on-field umpire is withheld, but in Rahul’s case, the third umpire overturned the decision despite the lack of clear evidence.
Rahul eventually had to trudge off the field for 26 runs off 74 balls leaving India reeling at 47 for 4 at the stroke of lunch.