BGT 2024-25: Was KL Rahul out in the first innings of Perth test? Simon Taufel gives his verdict

KL Rahul was given out in a controversial decision by third umpire Richard Illingworth in the Perth test.

Former ICC elite umpire Simon Taufel has given his pronouncement on the controversial dismissal of India batsman KL Rahul in India’s first innings of the Perth test.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 kicked off on Friday morning with the first test at the Optus Stadium in Perth

India’s stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah won the toss and elected to bowl first. In the absence of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul opened the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rahul looked the most assured of the Indian batsmen as the Australian pace trio bowled impeccably.

His time in the middle was reminiscent of his centuries in England and South Africa in 2021 as Rahul tugged his bat behind his pad and left a lot of deliveries outside the off-stump. He laced three boundaries and held the Indian innings as he lost three batting partners, scoring 26 runs off 74 balls.

However, his innings came to an end following a controversial decision from third umpire Richard Illingworth. Starc, from over the wicket, sent a length delivery across the right-handed Rahul, who made a tentative push outside the off stump.

The ball went past his outside edge and the Australians were up in an appeal as there was a noise, which could have come via the bat brushing the pad. The on-field umpire gave it not out. Pat Cummins challenged the call using a DRS.

The third umpire saw the leg side and back side vision and the Snicko technology showed a spike. However, it could not be determined with conviction whether the spike on the Snicko was because of the perceived edge or the bat brushing the pad.

The third umpire asked for a front-on and off-side vision but it wasn’t available. Yet, Illingworth then didn’t see any more replays and surprisingly ruled Rahul out, asking the on-field umpire to change his decision.

Rahul was utterly displeased with the third umpire’s call; he tried to explain to the on-field umpires that there was a gap between the bat and the ball as it passed through but it was to no avail. Fans and experts also pointed out that there wasn’t conclusive evidence enough to overturn the on-field decision.

Was KL Rahul out? Simon Taufel explains

According to Simon Taufel, Rahul was out as the spike on the snicko occured when the bat was away from the pad and near the ball.

Speaking with the broadcaster 7Cricket, Taufel said, one of the most respected former umpires, said “We saw with that side on shot there was a spike on RTS with the bat away from the pad. In other words, the bottom of the bat hadn’t reached the pad.

“Therefore rolling that through in its natural course, you may have seen that second spike (on Snicko, to indicate bat hitting pad) come through, had it been rolled all the way through.”

However, former Australia opener, also part of the same broadcasting team, differed, saying that his the spike on snicko was most likely due to the bat hitting the pad.

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