BGT 2024-25: "It was just a regulation wicket" Mitchell Starc plays down KL Rahul's controversial dismissal during Perth test

KL Rahul scored 26 runs off 74 balls in India’s first innings in Perth.

Australian speedster Mitchell Starc has played down the controversy regarding KL Rahul’s wicket on day 1 of the Perth test.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 kicked off on Friday at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The first day was dominated by the pacers from both sides as 17 wickets fell for only 181 runs.

The day was also punctuated by Rahul’s debatable dismissal decision. Batting on 26 runs, Rahul was given not out by on-field umpire Richard Kettleborough when the Aussies appealed for a caught behind off Mitchell Starc’s bowling.

Pat Cummins challenged the decision with a DRS. The third umpire reversed the on-field call of not out to out even though there didn’t seem to be a conclusive evidence that Rahul had nicked it.

There was a spike on the Snicko as the ball passed the bat but it wasn’t clear enough whether the spike was due to the apparent edge or the bat brushing the pad. Rahul indicated that he had hit the pad.

Was KL Rahul out? Mitchell Starc gives his verdict

Fans, ex-cricketers, and even former umpires have given their opinions. While many have opined that Rahul should have been given not out as there was not conclusive evidence enough to overturn the on-field call of not out, the bowler in this case, Starc, feels the other way.

Starc reckons Rahul was clearly out.

“It got overturned obviously, but I thought it was regulation, the sound it made, the timing of it, I thought it was just a regulation wicket,” Starc said in the post-day press conference.

Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar lamented the “poor supply of technology” and criticised the third umpire.

“First of all, disappointed with what was provided to the TV umpire. He should have got more evidence. Based on just a couple of angles, I don’t think such an important decision in the match should have been made. My point is, with the naked eye there’s only one certainty and that’s the pad being hit by the bat. It’s the only visual certainty we’ve got that with the naked eye. For everything else, you needed the aid of technology, which is Snicko,” Manjrekar said on Star Sports.

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