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KL Rahul's controversial caught-behind dismissal in the opening Test against Australia sparked debate, as fans and former players from both nations questioned the third umpire's decision to overturn the on-field call.
Australia star speedster Mitchell Starc who asked for the DRS opened up why he thought that it was an edge. He said that KL Rahul overturned after getting beat and he thought that it was a regulation.
"Obviously, he got to overturn, so yeah. I thought it was regulation. The sound it made, the timing of it, I thought it was just a regulation wicket. And obviously, the footage showed that which was why I was overturned" said Mitchell Starc on post day conference
KL Rahul's controversial dismissal
On-field umpire Richard Kettleborough initially ruled in Rahul's favor after Australia’s appeal. However, the decision was reviewed using DRS, and third umpire Richard Illingworth overturned it. This decision came despite the lack of a split-screen view, which could have clarified whether the Mitchell Starc delivery brushed the bat or if the noise detected on Snicko was from the bat hitting the pad.
The incident occurred just 10 minutes before lunch, with India ending the session at 51/4. Rahul, who scored 26 off 74 balls, suggested that his bat striking the pad caused the sound at the moment the ball passed the edge.
India vs Australia Perth Day 1 report
Coming back to the match, captain Jasprit Bumrah redeemed his bold decision to bat first with a sensational opening spell that left Australia reeling at 67 for 7, propelling India to a strong comeback after a disappointing batting performance on the opening day of the first Test.
Touted as a clash between two struggling batting line-ups, the match lived up to expectations on Day 1. An astonishing 17 wickets fell—something not seen in a Test on Australian soil for seven decades.
Bumrah's decision to bat first on a green surface, offering ample seam movement and sharp bounce, surprised many. Unfortunately, neither India’s experienced players nor the younger ones could adapt to the conditions.
India’s total of 150 in 49.4 overs was largely thanks to debutant Nitish Reddy's gritty 41 and Rishabh Pant's entertaining 37, which included a jaw-dropping six. The Australian bowlers shared the workload effectively, with Josh Hazlewood (4/29), Mitchell Starc (2/14 in 11 overs), Pat Cummins (2/67 in 15.4 overs), and Mitchell Marsh (2/12 in 5 overs) taking crucial wickets.
