Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who is known for h🍬is top-class fielding, displayed yet another show of outstanding athleticism to mesmerise his fans and the cricket fraternity during a T20 World Cup match against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday (November 3).
Afghanistan were 126/6 in the penultimate over of the mammoth run chase when Karim Janat atte💧mpted a wild slog off Indian pacer Mohammed Shami.
Jadeja steamed in from the boundary rope and claimed a stunning diving catch just inches above the turf – or so he thought.
“What a beauty!” said former Zimbabwe cricketer Pommie Mbangwa in the commentary.
“You can tell by the celebrations just how good it is. It’s an incredible catch.”
The decision was sent for a review to third umpire Aleem Dar with a soft signal of ‘out’. After looking at the several slow-motion replays, Dar overturned the on-field umpires call and deemed the batter ‘not-out’.
Replays showed that the ball was between Jadeja’s fingers before his hands hit the ground, but Dar believed the ball also made contact with the turf.
“The ball is hitting the ground. I’ve made my decision,” sa📖id Dar before displayiꩲng his call on the big screen.
Jadeja and Indian skipper Virat Kohli seemed unhappy with the third umpire’s decision.
“He can’t believe it, Ravi Jadeja,” Mbangwa said.
“But I can understand why the TV ump says it isn’t out.
“It’s an absolutely incredible effort, but just as he gets there, he doesn’t quite have it in hand, and it’s sort of between the fingers.
“It seems as it hits the ground, the ground helps the ball into the hands. What an effort, what a pity.”
Although Dar’s decision abided by the laws of the game, it couldn’t stop cricket fans and experts from expressing their anger on social media.
Former South African paceman Dale Steyn tweeted: “That’s a tired call Mr Ump.”
That’s a tired call Mr Ump.
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62)
England batter Sam Billings wrote: “Thought that was out tbf… Jadeja is ridiculous in the field!”
Thought that was out tbf…ꦛ jadeja is ridiculous in the field! 👏🦋🏼
— Sam Billings (@sambillings)
Former Netherlands star Wesley Barresi posted: “That was a spectacular catch from @imjadeja. How that was called not out is a little unfair!”
That was a spꦡectacular catch from . How that was꧂ called not out is a little unfair!
— Wesley Barresi (@Pepe_Barezi)
Here is how fans reacted:
//tw🍌itter.com/28notorious/status/1455958817360039941
Third umpire stole Jadeja sir's catch.
— अंशुल (@Ghair_Kanooni)
Jadeja was winning the catch of the tಞournament, and then the third umpire happened.
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh)
TV umpire decisions can be brutal at times. Impact on the ground will obviously make the ball pop a bit but Jadeja did catch it cleanly. Fielders are n🌳ot wearing mitts. Cut them some slack. Feel for Jadeja. Top catch.
— Somshuvra Laha (@IamSomshuvra)
That’s an ordinary call by the ಌUmpire . Diving catches should be banned I guess 🙄ꦛ
— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye)
Jadeja has beeꩵn denied the Catch of the Tournament. I dont know why it was given notout. The fingers were clearly under the ball.
— Yahya (@KyaaBatHai)
Catch of the tournament robbed. Sir Jadeja!
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer)
RT if you thin🌳k sir ravindra jadeja is th💖e best fielder in the world.
— Prayag (@theprayagtiwari)
Hard luck, Jadeja. That could ha𒅌ve been one oꦍf the finest catch ever.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
Talking more about the match, blazing half-centuries by opening batters Rohit Sharma (74) and KL Rahul (69) powered India to 210/2 after being put in to bat. The bowlers then shined with the bal💛l as Afghanistan were restricted൩ to 144/7 in their stipulated 20 overs.
