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'Outrageous': Cricket world confused after 'dubious' catch rocks India

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·4-min read
Virat Kohli (pictured left) confused after Dawid Malan (pictured right) takes a catch, which looked like it hit the ground to many.
Virat Kohli (pictured left) reacts after Dawid Malan (pictured right) took a controversial catch in the the fourth T20 between India and England. (Images: Twitter/Fox Sports)

The cricket world has been left confused over a Third Umpire ruling after England star Dawid Malan claimed a catch in the T20 against India despite it appearing to hit the ground.

India's total of 188 proved a step too far for England as they fell eight runs short in the fourth T20 match in Ahmedabad.

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But fans were left perplexed when Suryakumar Yadav was given out after Malan took a running catch in the deep to put an end to his quick-fire 57 run knock.

The umpire thought Malan had caught the ball, but after some confusion sent it for review for the Third Umpire and gave the soft signal as out.

But replays divided opinion with many claiming the ball left Malan's hands and hit the ground before he wrapped his fingers around it.

Fans on social media were fuming and ripped into the umpiring.

Many claimed the third umpire wasn't able to overturn the decision because the on-field umpire awarded the soft signal as out in the first place.

However, many thought there was conclusive evidence it had hit the turf.

Kohli questions soft signal rule

Indian captain Kohli was less than impressed with the decision and called for a review to the soft signal ruling.

“When there’s a half-and-half effort the soft signal becomes more important. I don’t know why there can’t be an ‘I don’t know’ call for the umpires,” Kohli said after the game.

“These are decisions that can change the course of the game, especially in these big games. We were on the receiving side today, and tomorrow it could be some other team.

“You want these ironed out and keep the game really simple and linear. It isn’t ideal in high pressure games and we want a lot of clarity on the field.”

Shardul Thakur celebrates with Washington Sundar and KL Rahul after dismissing England captain Eoin Morgan during the 4th T20 International between India and England at Narendra Modi Stadium on March 18, 2021 in Ahmedabad, India.
Shardul Thakur celebrates with Washington Sundar and KL Rahul after dismissing England captain Eoin Morgan during the 4th T20 International between India and England at Narendra Modi Stadium on March 18, 2021 in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images) (Surjeet Yadav via Getty Images)

Indian legend VVS Laxman hit out at the decision and also called for a rule change.

“How can this be out,” he wrote on Twitter.

“When you are not sure whether the ball was taken cleanly after watching so many replays using top class technology and still go by the soft signal given by the on-field umpire. I think this rule needs to be revisited and changed.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan told CricBuzz he thought it was a clean catch.

But agreed with the cricket community that the soft signal rule will need to be revisited.

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