After getting fired by Kuldeep Yadav, Tom Banton shocked both the live audience and the commentators by choosing to go for a review. When Banton nicked one to the wicketkeeper, KL Rahul, Kuldeep bowled a googly by slowing down the ball’s pace on the last delivery of the 18th over. The hitter chose to go upstairs, but India began to celebrate as the umpire lifted his finger.
When the video appeared on the screen, the third umpire deemed him out because of a spike that was visible as the ball passed the bat. Cricket players have been vociferous about the well-known fact that a batter has a keen sense of when the ball will nick his bat since the prop is gripped firmly in his hands.
After Tom Banton went for a review, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar was outspoken in his criticism, scolding that “this is not a school cricket.”
“Are you serious?” Reviewing the situation, I mean, how can a batter not realise he has nicked the ball, and especially not hit the bat or the ground? It’s international cricket. School cricket is not what this is. Sometimes you may not be aware that this is international cricket. “He went over to the non-striker to consult, so it makes less sense,” Gavaskar stated on television.
Speaking of Kuldeep, he suffered a sports hernia, which kept him out of play. Following his recovery from the injury, he returned to the Ranji Trophy 2024–25 as a player for Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, he was chosen for the Champions Trophy 2025. In the series, he took just two wickets while playing in only two games. The team’s sole quality spinners are Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep, it should be noted.
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