Dharmasena's blunder in the fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at the Kia Oval

Distraction gesture and dignity of DRS

According to DRS rules, umpires should not give any kind of explanation during the decision. Their job is only to say "out" or "not out". However, here Dharmasena made a bat gesture, which became decisive in preventing England from taking a review. Later, when the replay was shown, it was clear that the ball had hit the bat before going onto the pad. But by that time, England had not taken the review, and this opportunity had slipped out of their hands.

Michael Atherton expressed his displeasure from the commentary box. He said that the Indian team wanted England to waste their review. There was displeasure in his words, along with that it was also visible that the umpire's gesture can affect the fairness of the game. The entire system of DRS is built on the belief that the technology should be used with neutrality. This gesture of Dharmasena weakens that belief.

India's struggling batting in the rain and bad conditions

Despite the weather and difficult pitch, India posted a respectable score of 204/6 on the first day. After the initial setbacks, Karun Nair took charge and showed patience and understanding of the conditions in his unbeaten innings of 52 runs. Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed early, while KL Rahul inside-edged the ball back into his stumps. Shubman Gill became the victim of a very unnecessary run out, while Sai Sudharsan and Ravindra Jadeja started well but could not convert it into a long innings.

Washington Sundar and Dhruv Jurel gave some support to Nair, which moved the scoreboard forward. However, this innings of India shows that if the early wickets had not fallen, the score could have been better.

England's wayward bowling and the effect of Tongue

England should have got more benefit from the first day. Both the clouds in the sky and the moisture on the pitch were in their favour. However, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, and the other bowlers bowled too wide and failed to hit the right length consistently. As a result, the Indian batsmen got a chance to breathe.

Josh Tongue, however, revived the match twice. His bowling was sharp, and he dismissed both the left-handers with excellent deliveries. However, he was wayward for the rest of his spell. The performance of the other bowlers was not up to the mark. Woakes did take a wicket, but he injured his shoulder while fielding, and it looks like he may be out not only of the rest of this Test but for a long time in the coming months.

Fielding lapses and England's incomplete day

England's fielders created and lost opportunities. Some catches were dropped, and on some occasions, they did not stop the runs, which are so vital on this wicket. The bowlers did not get full support from the fielders. At such times, the morale of the team also drops, and the English team could not end the first day in a satisfactory manner.

Series situation and rising tension level

This Test is not decisive, but its impact on the series is certain. England are ahead 2-1, and India will want to win this match at all costs. In such a situation, the importance of every decision, every appeal and every run increases. And when even a small gesture of the umpire affects the game, it is natural to discuss it.

Controversy and Dharmasena's past

Kumar Dharmasena is an experienced umpire. He has taken decisions in big matches. However, this is not the first time that his decision has been questioned. In the 2019 World Cup final also, one of his controversial decisions also attracted discussions. The umpire is always expected to remain neutral, but this time his gesture proved beneficial to one side.

Was it just a human error?

This incident can also be called a human error. Cricket is a fast game and the umpire has to make a decision in a moment. But the question is, is it justified to give any signal by violating the rules in such a situation? In this age of technology, where every ball is watched on TV, such gestures can harm the moral aspect of the game.

Strategy and hope for India

Karun Nair's innings was the biggest positive for India. His patient batting gave stability to the team. If the weather cooperates the next day, India will look to score at least 300 runs. Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj can get help from this pitch, and India will hope that Prasidh Krishna brings his A game.

England's problems and responsibilities

Woakes' absence can become a problem for England. They have limited options left in the bowling attack, and if the top order does not stand up to the Indian bowlers, the match will end in disaster for them. England will have to build their strategy, come back hard in the morning session, otherwise India can make a comeback.

Final thoughts

A small gesture shook the balance of the game. Though there were many interesting twists in bowling and batting, the centre of discussion was Dharmasena's decision. This incident made it clear that even a small mistake by the umpire becomes a big one in the DRS era. To keep the game clean and fair, it is important that the umpire sticks to the rules, even if it is just a gesture. The story of this match is no longer just about runs and wickets. It is about decisions, reactions and that one moment that