Media365
NEW DELHI: Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has criticised umpire Kumar Dharmasena for his unusual on-field gesture during the first day of the fifth and final Test between India and England at The Oval. The Sri Lankan umpire appeared to signal an inside edge to England’s players mid-appeal, a moment that has sparked debate across the cricketing world.Live Score: India vs England 5th TestThe incident occurred in the 13th over of India’s first innings. England’s Josh Tongue fired in a sharp inswinging yorker that struck Sai Sudharsan on the pad. England’s players launched a loud LBW appeal, only for Dharmasena to shake his head and then gesture with his fingers, seemingly to indicate an inside edge. Replays confirmed that Sudharsan did, indeed, get a faint nick, but the mid-appeal gesture raised eyebrows.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!On Star Sports commentary, Bangar didn’t hold back: “These habits do not go away because it is second nature that whenever there is an appeal, you try to say it. When Dharmasena started umpiring, there was no DRS, but now you don’t have to give any signal as to what’s in your mind. That little hint gives the bowling team insight into what the umpire is thinking. He should not have done it.”
Bangar’s blunt assessment reflects a broader concern about impartiality and clarity in modern-day umpiring, especially with the DRS system in place, which removes the need for such cues.
Poll
Should umpires refrain from signaling during appeals in cricket?
The day also saw India’s innings stutter under overcast skies. After losing the toss for the fifth time in the series, India lost openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (2) and KL Rahul (14) cheaply.Watch Dharmasena’s signal here:The biggest blow came post-rain when captain Shubman Gill was run out for 21 after a poor call for a single. It was his second Test run-out — both against England — and it broke a promising partnership with Sudharsan.India ended the rain-affected second session at 85/3, still searching for momentum in a must-win clash to level the series 2-2.
