A significant DRS controversy erupted on the final day of the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, involving Indian youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal. The incident, which occurred in the 71st over with Jaiswal batting at 94, has sparked heated debate across the cricketing world. Jaiswal was given out caught behind by the third umpire, despite the Snickometer showing no spike as the ball passed his bat.
The moment unfolded when Jaiswal miscued a pull shot, and the ball flew to the leg side of wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Carey completed a catch after the ball appeared to deflect off Jaiswal’s glove. On-field umpire Joel Wilson ruled it not out, but Australian captain Pat Cummins immediately reviewed the decision.
The Decision Review System (DRS) analysis took significant time, with ultra-edge technology showing no spike. However, third umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat overruled the Snickometer, relying instead on visual evidence of the ball's trajectory changing, and adjudged Jaiswal out.
Jaiswal was left stunned by the decision, and the Australians celebrated what turned out to be a pivotal wicket. As the final specialist batter, Jaiswal’s dismissal left India’s chances of saving the Test in jeopardy.
Commentator Sanjay Manjrekar weighed in during the broadcast, attempting to rationalize the third umpire’s decision. He pointed out that the reverse angle from behind the stumps seemed to show a deviation in the ball’s path after passing Jaiswal’s bat and glove. Manjrekar commended the umpire for making a “brave” decision, even though it defied the data provided by Snickometer.
Manjrekar noted that most umpires would have likely sided with the technology and ruled Jaiswal not out, a call that would also have been deemed acceptable. "It was a judgment call, and the third umpire chose to trust the visual evidence over the absence of a spike on Snickometer," he explained.
The controversy has reignited discussions about the reliability and consistency of DRS technology and the balance between technological input and human judgment in critical moments of the game.
