Indian supporters at The Oval resorted to booing the Australian team, particularly Cameron Green, after a diving catch by the giant all-rounder to dismiss opener Shubman Gill appeared inconclusive to the naked eye. The incident occurred just before tea when Scott Boland’s delivery bounced unexpectedly from a length, causing Gill’s shot to fly off the shoulder of his bat. The ball was then scooped up inches off the ground by a diving Green stationed at gully. Gill, who had scored 18 runs in an opening partnership of 41, was looking in good form at the time. A disappointed Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, was seen discussing the catch with the on-field umpires as they walked back to the pavilion.
This was the second remarkable catch taken by Green in the match, the first being a one-handed screamer to dismiss Ajinkya Rahane in the first innings. However, replays of the catch on Gill were inconclusive, with some camera angles suggesting that the ball may have touched the grass.
The controversial incident brought back memories of the soft signal, which had been removed from the playing conditions ahead of the final. If the on-field umpires had signaled a not-out, the TV umpire could have given the benefit of the doubt to India. Ultimately, TV umpire Richard Kettleborough adjudged it as a fair catch, leading to chants of “cheat cheat cheat” from the Indian supporters. The booing continued when Green later came on to bowl.
Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, commentating on the game, expressed his belief that the replays were inconclusive and suggested that a closer zoom on Green’s fingers could have provided a clearer picture. Singh also emphasized that this decision could potentially impact India’s run chase.
In contrast, former Australian opener Justin Langer, commentating on the BBC, believed that Green had his fingers underneath the ball during the catch. He light-heartedly remarked that fans from different countries would interpret the decision differently based on their loyalties.
The incident added fuel to the intense atmosphere at The Oval, as Gill and Rohit Sharma’s partnership had started to pose a threat to the Australian team. The contentious catch and the subsequent reactions highlighted the subjective nature of such decisions and the passion that surrounds high-stakes cricket matches.
Despite the controversy, the match continued, with both teams striving to secure victory in the highly anticipated final of the World Test Championship.