• Umpire Paul Reiffel faced fan outrage over contentious calls on Day 4 of the Lord's Test.

  • India finished the day at 58/4 and need 135 runs to beat England in the third Test.

ENG vs IND: Umpire Paul Reiffel faces fan fury over controversial decisions against India on Day 4 of Lord’s Test
Fans slam umpire Paul Reiffel in 3rd Test (Image Source: X)

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Day 4 of the Lord’s Test between England and India witnessed high drama, not just with the bat and ball, but also with the umpire’s finger. Veteran Australian umpire Paul Reiffel found himself at the centre of fan outrage following a series of contentious decisions, particularly those perceived to have gone against India during a tense day of Test cricket.

Controversial call by Paul Reiffel on Shubman Gill ignites debate

The moment that truly set social media ablaze came late in the evening session when India’s young captain, Shubman Gill, was given out caught behind off Brydon Carse. Gill, visibly baffled, immediately went for the DRS, and the replays confirmed his suspicion—the ball had missed the bat by a clear margin. The UltraEdge showed no spike, reversing Reiffel’s on-field call and exposing a glaring error.

At a stage when India were under immense pressure chasing 193 runs for victory, the decision added to the tension and reignited discussions around the quality of umpiring in the longest format.

Fans lambasts Paul for his poor decisions against India

It wasn’t just the Gill dismissal that riled Indian fans. Earlier in the day, Reiffel was accused of inconsistency in his decision-making, especially during India’s bowling innings. A few tight calls that went in England’s favour despite visible doubt led many to believe there was a bias creeping in. The repeated occurrences of debatable rulings caused a stir among viewers, many of whom took to social media to express their displeasure.

Cricket fans didn’t hold back as they took to social media to vent their frustration over what they felt was substandard umpiring on such a crucial day. Several posts mocked the decisions, while others called for greater accountability and use of technology in umpiring roles.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Also WATCH: Jasprit Bumrah castles Brydon Carse with picture-perfect yorker on Day 4 of Lord’s Test

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AKSHAT GAUR
Akshat is the Sr. Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Akshat has honed his skills over 6 years, working with various media outlets, publications, and organizations to deliver high-quality content that informs, educates, and entertains audiences. He is just another cricket fan who’s grown up watching the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Cricket runs in his veins. Cover drive is his favorite sight, and a ball meeting the middle of the bat is his favorite sound. You can write to him at akshat.gaur@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter, Facebook & Linkedin.