The Day 4 of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2023 didn’t go in India’s favour at all. The Indian players were made to toil very hard until Australia declared their innings on 270/8 and set a mammoth target of 444 for the last year’s runner-ups.
Alex Carey top-scored for the Aussie side in their second innings and played a major role in helping Australia build up on their lead. The left-handed batter scored 66 runs off 15 deliveries. Meanwhile, other notable contributions to the Australian team came from Marnus Labuschagne (41) and Mitchell Starc (41). Although Ravindra Jadeja picked three wickets for India, he didn’t get the support of other bowlers and failed to contain the Aussie team from setting a huge target.
After a disastrous bowling and declaration of Australia, India started the fourth and final innings of the game on a positive note, with the opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill adding quick 41 runs in seven overs. But Gill unfortunately fell victim to poor umpiring and was adjudged out in what turned out to be a big controversial decision.
On the first ball of the eighth over, Gill edged a delivery from Australian pacer Scott Boland that went to Cameron Green at the third slip. Green reacted quickly and leapt towards his right to hold onto the ball, but the decision was sent upstairs by the on-field umpire due to the catch being very low and unclear to their sight.
TV umpire Richard Kettleborough after multiple replays, declared the catch clean in the end, and Gill departed on a score of 18. However, the young India opener and Rohit were not convinced by the judgement of the third umpire as the frustration was clearly visible on their faces.
The dismissal has now sparked a huge controversy on the internet as many believe that Green didn’t collect the ball cleanly and that it touched the ground. Fans have even called out the match official for poor umpiring. People from the cricket fraternity, including Virender Sehwag and Ridhima Pathak, also expressed their dissatisfaction over the decision to declare Gill out on their social media handle.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Third umpire while making that decision of Shubman Gill.
Inconclusive evidence. When in doubt, it’s Not Out #WTC23Final pic.twitter.com/t567cvGjub
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 10, 2023
NOT OUT ! #WTC23Final pic.twitter.com/mDNSglY9p4
— Ridhima Pathak (@PathakRidhima) June 10, 2023
That was Not Out. I request the Oval crowd to throw water bottles on the ground.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) June 10, 2023
Unlucky Shubman Gill.
It should've been Not Out. pic.twitter.com/CSxFzB1xc0
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 10, 2023
These guys below are responsible for Gill's dismissal. He was clearly NOT OUT. In the era of modern technology they are not able to find conclusions.🥲
For #WTC23Final How biased umpiring have been.
Umpires : Richard Illingworth, Chris Gaffaney
3rd Umpire : Richard Kettleborough pic.twitter.com/Zwy6CaaEJX— Depressed ICT devotee (@Aatmanirbharboi) June 10, 2023
Shubman Gill was not out
3rd umpire won't see heaven. pic.twitter.com/QF0Ipt3fB2— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) June 10, 2023
Brilliant effort yet again by Cameron Green but it was clear not out wrong decision !! Simple mistakes mis judgement shouldn't be happy poor umpiring#INDvsAUS #WTCFinal #WTC23Final pic.twitter.com/oSLo72ugmO
— Yash k_335 (@335Yash) June 10, 2023
This is clearly not out. Totally unfair decision against Shubman Gill and India. pic.twitter.com/wNnArhN3RK
— ANSHUMAN🚩 (@AvengerReturns) June 10, 2023
First Australia changed New ball(which was not swinging) for their Benefit then Shubhman gill was not out, umpire gave out !
This is CLEAR CHEATING!!!
— ᴘʀᴀᴛʜᴍᴇsʜ⁴⁵ (@45Fan_Prathmesh) June 10, 2023
• In the first innings, Aussies went to change the ball within 10 overs and umpires approved.
• Today Shubman Gill was not out umpire gave out
• Starc is landing in danger zone still not getting warning by umpires.
Where are we heading?
— Vishal. (@SPORTYVISHAL) June 10, 2023
Sorry, thats not out !!!!
The ball touched the ground.
Super hasty call from Kettleborough. Funny how these decisions go against India.— Jatin Paranjape (@jats72) June 10, 2023
Such a shameful act – Cameron Green & Aus – Grow up and Live up to Sportsmanship!
What's 3rd umpire has done ?
Ball clearly touched the ground and hand was not below it. 🤔Gill was not out!#WTCFinal #INDvsAUS @ICC @BCCI @ShubmanGill pic.twitter.com/NkhJMZB2SX
— Sitab Chaudhary-Office (@sitab_chaudhary) June 10, 2023
Looks Not Out pic.twitter.com/uhA3T8ijkS
— Rashid Latif | 🇵🇰 (@iRashidLatif68) June 10, 2023
Wtf… it was not out. #WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/z3u3xz3p48
— Vipin Tiwari (@vipintiwari952) June 10, 2023
Umpires against other teams : When in doubt, it's not out
Umpires against India : When in doubt, it's out 🤐 pic.twitter.com/VloIPtVKQe
— Utsav 💔 (@utsav__45) June 10, 2023