Sunil Gavaskar’s finally speaks on why he had to Rant On Live TV After Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Controversial Dismissal in Boxing Day Test and Slaming Third Umpire Decision
The dramatic final day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne was marred by a contentious dismissal that sparked outrage from cricketing greats and officials alike. The incident involved Indian batter Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was dismissed controversially after a Decision Review System (DRS) review overturned the on-field umpire’s not-out call. The decision, made by third umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat, has drawn sharp criticism from several cricket legends, including Sunil Gavaskar and BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla, who have called the dismissal a “wrong decision.”
Jaiswal, who had shown great resilience in his innings, was batting on a gritty 84 from 208 balls — the best chance India had of avoiding defeat against Australia’s relentless attack. The controversy unfolded when Jaiswal attempted to hook a short-pitched delivery from Australian captain Pat Cummins. The ball, which angled down the leg side, appeared to pass close to Jaiswal’s gloves. Australia’s appeal for a caught-behind dismissal was initially ruled not out by on-field umpire Joel Wilson.
However, Cummins swiftly opted for a review, prompting the third umpire to examine the evidence. The Snickometer showed no discernible spike as the ball 
The decision sent shockwaves through the cricketing community, with many questioning the use of technology in the review process. Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary Indian batsman, was particularly vocal in his criticism. Speaking on *Star Sports*, Gavaskar said, “If you are using technology, then use technology only. Whatever I am seeing, I always say that this is an optical illusion. Snicko is a straight line. So it is absolutely not out. According to me, this is not out. This is a wrong decision. Absolutely wrong decision. Otherwise, don’t use technology. If you are going to go with optical illusion, then don’t use technology at all. It’s simple.”
BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla echoed Gavaskar’s sentiments, taking to social media to express his displeasure. “Yashasvi Jaiswal was clearly not out. The third umpire should have taken note of what technology was suggesting. While overruling the field umpire, the third umpire should have solid reasons,” Shukla posted on X (formerly Twitter), questioning the basis of the decision.
Jaiswal, visibly distraught by the decision, briefly argued with the on-field umpires before walking off the field after contributing 84 runs to India’s total. The dismissal was a major blow to India’s hopes of salvaging a draw, and it further ignited a debate on the accuracy and fairness of DRS decisions.
In contrast, five-time ICC Umpire of the Year, Simon Taufel, defended the third umpire’s decision on *Channel Seven*. Taufel argued that a “clear deflection off the bat” was enough to overturn the on-field call without further analysis from other technologies like the Snickometer. “With the technology, we have a hierarchy, and if there is a clear deflection off the bat, there is no need to go any further and use any other form of technology to prove the case. The clear deflection is conclusive evidence,” Taufel stated.
This incident is just the latest in a series of controversial DRS decisions during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Earlier in the series, KL Rahul’s dismissal in the first Test in Perth also sparked debate when third umpire Richard Illingworth overturned an on-field decision without having access to a split-screen view that could have definitively clarified whether the ball grazed Rahul’s bat or just his pads.
As technology continues to play an increasingly pivotal role in modern cricket, the Yashasvi Jaiswal dismissal raises important questions about the reliability and consistency of DRS. While the system is designed to eliminate human error, incidents like these highlight the subjectivity involved in interpreting available evidence. With high-profile figures from both India and Australia weighing in, it’s clear that the debate over DRS is far from over, and it may continue to influence crucial decisions in future matches.
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