NEW DELHI: India captain Rohit Sharma backed the third umpire’s decision to dismiss young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal during a pivotal moment in the final session of the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Jaiswal’s ‘contentious’ dismissal, which came after a faint edge was detected despite Snicko showing no spike, sparked intense debate among fans and cricket experts.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Rohit admitted that while Snicko didn’t indicate a spike, the visual evidence suggested otherwise.
“It didn’t show in Snicko, but with the naked eye, there was a clear deflection,” Rohit said. “In all fairness, it looked like he touched it. But, more often than not, we fall on the wrong side of such decisions.”
Jaiswal’s dismissal proved to be the turning point in India’s chase of a record 340-run target, after a resilient partnership with Rishabh Pant had kept the visitors in the game until tea. Following the opener’s exit, India’s batting line-up collapsed, losing their final seven wickets for just 34 runs and ultimately falling 184 runs short of the target.
Rohit expressed his disappointment over the loss, highlighting the mental toll such results take on him as a captain and player.
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“Few results didn’t go our way. As a captain and batter, it’s disappointing and mentally disturbing,” he said. “When results are not coming, it hurts me more than individual performances. Whether it’s bowlers or batters, we must seize opportunities to change the game.”
The defeat dealt a significant blow to India’s hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship final for the third consecutive time. The loss also handed Australia an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-match series, with the final Test set to begin on Friday, January 3, at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Jaiswal and Pant had reignited India’s chances with a gritty 88-run partnership, but Pant’s dismissal after a false shot triggered the collapse that sealed India’s fate. Rohit acknowledged the contributions of the young players but emphasized the need for a collective effort in critical moments.
The controversy surrounding Jaiswal’s dismissal has added an extra layer of intrigue to an already intense series. As the teams gear up for the final Test, the pressure will be on India to salvage pride and end the series on a high note.