India vs Australia,1st Test: KL Rahul's controversial dismissal sparks outrage
Perth: Team India batter KL Rahul's dismissal during the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth on Friday has ignited a wave of frustration and debate among fans and pundits alike.
The controversy unfolded when Rahul, who was looking in decent touch, was dismissed for 26 following a review by the third umpire. Facing Mitchell Starc, Rahul moved forward to defend a delivery that angled across him. The ball passed closely to the bat and was caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Initially, the on-field umpire ruled it not out, but Australia opted for a review, claiming a faint edge.
The review showed a spike on the Snicko, suggesting contact with the bat as the ball passed. However, the crucial front-on replay, which could have confirmed whether the sound came from the bat or the bat-pad contact, was inconclusive. Despite the ambiguity, the third umpire overturned the on-field not-out decision, citing the Snicko spike as sufficient evidence of an edge.
The Karnataka batter, visibly upset, flashed a wry smile before delivering a mouthful.
The dismissal sparked widespread outrage on social media, with fans calling the decision a "joke" and criticising the reliance on incomplete evidence. Many argued that the absence of a clear front-on angle should have led to the benefit of the doubt being given to the batter.
Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer took to social media, questioning the use of technology and the third umpire’s decision. "Third umpire asked for another angle which wasn't provided. I'd assume he'd only ask for another angle if he wasn't sure. Then if he wasn't sure, why did he overturn the on field not out call? Poor use of technology and proper protocol not followed. KL hard done by," Jaffer wrote on X.
Former Australian batter Matthew Hayden also weighed in, expressing doubts over the Snicko reading. “His pad and bat are not together at that point in time as the ball passes. It's (bat hitting pad) after, in fact, the ball passes the edge. Does Snicko pick up the sound of the bat hitting the pad? We're assuming (Snicko) may be the outside edge of the bat but that may not be the case," Hayden said on 7Cricket.
Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle also criticised the decision, urging a more careful review process, especially when overturning the on-field umpire's call. He noted that there is no need to rush a decision when there are so many angles to review.
Meanwhile, Australian pacers dominated the Indian batting lineup as India were bowled out for 150 on Day 1 of the first Test.
"His pad and bat are not together at that point in time as the ball passes.
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) November 22, 2024
"It's (bat hitting pad) after, in fact, the ball passes the edge. Does Snicko pick up the sound of the bat hitting the pad?
"We're assuming (Snicko) may be the outside edge of the bat but that may not… pic.twitter.com/hvG0AF9rdo
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
