Ravichandran Ashwin brutally hammers Paul Reiffel for repeated anti-India calls; suspicious decisions found

After cricket legends Anil Kumble, Sunil Gavaskar, and Jonathan Trott, Ravichandran Ashwin expressed his shock and disappointment over the umpire Paul Reiffel's decision to give a lifeline to Joe Root on Day 4 of the ongoing third Test between India and England at Lord's.

India nearly had a breakthrough on Day 4 of the third Test at Lord’s when Joe Root was almost dismissed in the second session. Mohammed Siraj bowled a sharp delivery that trapped Root right in front of the stumps, and the Indian players were confident they had their man.

But the on-field umpire wasn’t convinced and turned down the appeal. India quickly went for a review. However, Hawk-Eye showed the ball just clipping the leg stump, leading to an ‘umpire’s call’ decision, which meant Root got the controversial lifeline against India.

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Ravichandran Ashwin, Anil Kumble, and Sunil Gavaskar fume after Joe Root’s lucky escape

However, the decision followed the rules; it didn’t sit well with the Indian camp. A frustrated Siraj was seen punching the air in disbelief, clearly upset by the narrow escape. Even the legends like Anil Kumble and Sunil Gavaskar have expressed their disappointment over the call.

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Gavaskar said on-air, “You're saying it was just kissing the leg stump? No way. That was knocking it over.” Jonathan Trott also agreed with the former Indian captain. Trott said, “When you saw that in real-time, it looked absolutely stone dead. England got lucky again.”

On the other hand, Anil Kumble’s on-air remark summed up the mood in the Indian camp, as he said, “It seems Paul Reiffel has decided it’s not out. Anything close—not out.”

Ravichandran Ashwin slams Paul Reiffel after Joe Root survives controversial LBW call at Lord’s

Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin has strongly criticized umpire Paul Reiffel after a few close decisions went against India in the ongoing Test series against England.

Ashwin said that he has noticed a clear pattern that whenever India is bowling, decisions seem to go against them, but when India is batting, it’s the opposite.

The former Indian off-spinner has shared how difficult it is to get a decision in India’s favor when Reiffel is the umpire. Ashwin also made a funny remark about a DRS review, saying the ball missed the bat by such a big margin that even a car could’ve passed through the gap.

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Whenever India bowls, Paul Reiffel feels that it's not out: Ashwin

Ashwin told Vimal Kumar on his YouTube channel "Ash ki Baat": “My experience with Paul Reiffel has been that you always have to talk to him. You have to set him up. I'm not saying that you have to tell him, 'Give me the wicket.'

Whenever India bowls, he (Paul Reiffel) feels that it's not out. When India bats, he feels that it's always out. If this were the case with every other team and not just India, then the ICC would have to take a look at it. Between the bat and the ball, I own a car, a sedan, which can pass through the gap. It is clear that it’s not out.”

The former Indian all-rounder even mentioned that his father often says India can’t win a match when Reiffel is on duty. Recalling his father’s words, Ashwin signed off by saying, “Whenever Paul Reiffel comes, we never win.”