India’s Fortunes Turn with DRS: Rescuing Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, and Mohammad Siraj at WTC 2023 Final
The WTC 2023 Final hasn’t been the smoothest ride for Team India, finding themselves trailing by 173 runs on Day 2. With the top order faltering, it was Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur who stepped up, providing the team with much-needed stability and bringing them back into the fight. However, amidst India’s innings, several umpiring errors surfaced, only to be rectified by the intervention of the Decision Review System (DRS), granting a second chance to the Indian batsmen.
The Importance of DRS: Rescuing Indian Batsmen Three Times Over
Ajinkya Rahane, in his remarkable comeback, faced a potential setback when Pat Cummins dismissed him for a mere 17 runs, caught in front of the wicket. The on-field umpires raised their fingers, signaling his departure. Nevertheless, Rahane chose to challenge the decision using the DRS, and to everyone’s astonishment, the replay showed that Cummins had overstepped the bowling crease. The delivery was declared a no-ball, filling Indian fans with immense relief.
DRS Rescues Indian Batsmen Again: Rahane, Thakur, and Siraj Survive Umpiring Blunders
What initially seemed like a rare occurrence turned into a recurring theme as Ajinkya Rahane’s escape was not an isolated incident. In the 60th over, history repeated itself when Pat Cummins repeated his previous error, overstepping the bowling line. This time, it was Shardul Thakur who benefitted from the Australian skipper’s mistake. The umpire’s initial out decision was swiftly overturned by the DRS, allowing Thakur to remain in the game.
As the Indian batting lineup approached its tail end, the inevitability of the final wicket falling loomed large. Mohammad Shami and Mohammad Siraj were the last two players at the crease. It was during this tense moment that Cameron Green delivered a remarkable delivery, resulting in Siraj being trapped in front of the wickets. The umpire raised his finger, signaling Siraj’s dismissal. However, Siraj decided to challenge the decision using the DRS.
In an unexpected turn of events, David Warner and Steve Smith, assuming the DRS to be futile, began their walk back to the pavilion. To the astonishment of all, the replay showed the involvement of the bat, forcing the umpire to reverse his decision. The Australian players made their way back onto the field amidst laughter from the crowd.
As Australia commenced their second innings, reaching a score of 23/1 before the Tea break, it was evident that India required more than just solid bowling to stage a comeback in the WTC 2023 Final. The Indian team faced an uphill battle and needed to demonstrate their prowess in multiple aspects of the game.