India vs New Zealand 2019: Twitter Surprised as Third Umpire Gives Controversial Decision

The third umpire Shaun Haig is the talk of the town in the ongoing fixture between New Zealand and India. Krunal Pandya was able to plumb Daryll Mitchell in front of the wickets. The standing umpire gave the decision in favor of the visitors. However, Mitchell decided to send the decision to the third umpire.

Subsequently, there was a mark on the hotspot. In fact, there was also a deflection. However, there was no edge found on the Snickometer when the ball went past the bat. There was a spike on the Snickometer when the ball smashed into the pads.

This was confusing.

Consequently, the third umpire decided to give preference to the Snickometer and didn’t pay heed to the hotspot. Shaun Haig then asked the standing umpire to stay with his on-field decision. However, Daryll Mitchell and New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson were left flabbergasted by the decision.

Mitchell had to walk back as there was no way the third umpire decision could have been overturned. In fact, the two umpires got together to discuss the decision but stuck to it in the end.

Meanwhile, both the teams are unchanged in the second T20I after New Zealand won the opening match by 80 runs. New Zealand is currently 125-4 after Kane Williamson won the toss and decided to bat first.

Colin de Grandhomme completed his fifty off just 27 balls and he was then dismissed by Hardik Pandya. Thus, it was a pivotal wicket for the visitors. Meanwhile, Krunal Pandya has been the pick of the Indian bowlers as the southpaw spinner has scalped three wickets. Furthermore, the senior Pandya conceded only 28 runs in his four overs quota.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the controversial decision of the third umpire:

Rohit should have called him back; he was not out.#NZvIND

— ?????? ????? (@GautamSodhi1) February 8, 2019

One big takeaway from this series is that India's domestic umpires aren't the worst lot around. #NZvIND

— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) February 8, 2019

BIZZARE. ARE WE SERIOUS? Third Umpire has failed the DRS ?? #Mitchell #NzvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 8, 2019

There is a mark on the bat even before the ball has crossed.

Could be a residual mark. The third umpire made the right call if he is unsure of the inside edge. #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/4Xv5JdDtSs

— Akhil Nair (@kegbeforewicket) February 8, 2019

On #CricbuzzCommBox @ImZaheer makes a valid point about the 3rd umpire needing to have overwhelming evidence to over-rule the on-field umpire. Question is: if one mechanism is at conflict with the other, does he have overwhelming evidence to go against the on-field umpire.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 8, 2019

That white mark on the Hotspot ended up as a blot on DRS.#indvnz #DRS #mitchell #darylmitchell @BLACKCAPS #hotspot #NZvIND

— Cricmash (@cricmash) February 8, 2019

Time to trouble @FraserStewart27 or @hemantbuch once more! Any clarification on the protocol for DRS? Must Hotspot be double checked at all times with RTS, and only if both concur, should it be conclusive. Or is RTS given priority to decide timing of the spike? #NZv IND

— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) February 8, 2019

Twitter after Daryl Mitchell's review. #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/BXwqkVaWjq

— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) February 8, 2019

Given out LBW !! This is ridiculous.. #NZVIND pic.twitter.com/XXVdPVvGf4

— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) February 8, 2019

Seriously what the F*ck?! #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/kRpwcBdOFd

— The ACC (@TheACCnz) February 8, 2019

While there was a clear mark on Hotspot, the spike on RTS was after ball passed bat, and apparently RTS is the more reliable tech. So the third umpire was confused to a degree, but once he's reached his decision, farcical for NZ & the on-field umps to drag it on! #NZvIND

— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) February 8, 2019

I can understand if the 3rd umpire says the two resolution methods are in conflict and so I will go with the on-field decision. But he doesn't say that. https://t.co/cJ8l5wnrcl

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 8, 2019

Once the DRS messed it up there was no solution other than asking the batsman to leave. The 3rd umpire has preferred snicko over hot spot. We haven't heard the last of this.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 8, 2019