India’s long-standing problems with DRS came back to haunt them on day two of the Chennai Test.
After exhausting all their reviews early in the day, they were left with none to review a dubious caught-behind call later on.
India lost the last of their three reviews when they decided to opt for DRS after appealing for a caught against Ollie Pope in the 139th over of England’s innings, just before the tea break. An attempt from Pope to sweep Ravichandran Ashwin rebounded off his body and handed a catch to leg-slip. After deliberating with his teammates, Kohli decided to opt for the review, the last of the three available for India, but replays showed that the deflection had come off the forearm, not the glove.
In the 165th over, Washington Sundar sent one outside off to Jos Buttler, whose forward defence seemingly took an edge behind. The Indian fielders started vociferously appealing, almost pleading to the umpire, convinced that they had their man, but the appeal was turned down. As the cameras captured the desperation and disappointment on the Indian players’ faces, it became evident that the use of the previous reviews had proved to be a poor call after all. Earlier in the innings, India had used up their first two reviews in as many overs. The technology soon after showed that had they reviewed, the decision would almost certainly have been overturned,
On social media, there was considerable debate over the team’s decision to use up the reviews early on. While some pointed fingers at Kohli for his debatable calls, others felt that it wasn’t the captain alone who insisted on going upstairs. As expected, there were comparisons of Kohli’s captaincy style and decision-making skills with the other leadership options in the team.
This is one of aspect of Virat Kohli which is not good. Wasting reviews!
— Sourav Sinha (@sourav_sinha) February 6, 2021
https://twitter.com/ViratiaNot/status/1357967444262834177
If you look at the positive, Kohli can't waste any more review 💀
— G 🌝 (@MoonEra_G) February 6, 2021
Those three wasteful and desperate reviews by Kohli and others will end up India conceding 60-70 odd runs now. Poor umpiring though. https://t.co/kY2do8Mr93
— Udit (@udngrChels) February 6, 2021
India is taking review for entertainment in this innings. #INDvENG
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) February 6, 2021
That's why you don't burn your reviews in hope earlier.
Jos Buttler survives a caught behind.
ENG 506-6#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/ZcfmETzCjF
— James Buttler | Cricket Badger Podcast 🏏🦡🇺🇦 (@cricket_badger) February 6, 2021
Kohli ignores Pant and burns the last review. Would Rahane have done the same? Then it costs India with a caught behind. Next ball, Buttler cover drive for 4 to bring up the 500 😂😂#kohliout #INDvENG
— Mark Bentley (@markb999) February 6, 2021
https://twitter.com/swing_drive/status/1357922992119025666
Do you think that Rohit Sharma/Ajinkya Rahane are more sensible captains compared to Virat Kohli when it comes to taking a review?#askaakash
— Adv. Shaurya Mahajan (@IMahajanShaurya) February 6, 2021
https://twitter.com/KanpuriLadki/status/1357965422104961025
A few, however, justified the team’s call to go for the reviews, pointing out that the team had already bowled 139 overs before using their final review.
160 overs..3 reviews..you take your chances. It's not captain's fault.
— Kshitij Ojha (@Kshitij070) February 6, 2021
We took 3 reviews over 165 overs. Unfair to say we wasted it. They had a good rule of resetting reviews after 90 overs. Not sure when ICC did away with that
— Krishnan (@krakinkrish) February 6, 2021
Others wondered if, given England had reviews remaining, the umpire should have given Buttler out, so that he could review if that decision was incorrect.
Buttler – a clear edge. India have blown all their reviews. Maybe umpire giving Buttler out – and allowing him to review if he wanted – would have been the percentage decision.
— John Etheridge (@JohnSunCricket) February 6, 2021
