Former India keeper-batter Surinder Khanna has lashed out at the Indian team for questioning some umpiring decisions on Day 5 of the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne on Monday, December 30. Khanna urged the visitors to play a 'fair' game and work on their cricketing skills instead of creating controversies.
India went down to Australia by 184 runs in the fourth Test at the MCG to concede a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Chasing a target of 340, their struggling batting outfit crumbled yet again as they were all-out for 155 in 79.1 overs. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal top-scored with 84, but was dismissed in contentious fashion.
The left-hander was adjudged caught behind by the third umpire off Pat Cummins' bowling after Australia took the DRS. While there was no movement on Snickometer, there was deflection when the ball was close to the bat and the glove. The TV umpire was convinced Jaiswal had hit the ball, but the batter was hugely disappointed with the verdict.
Speaking to news agency IANS, Khanna slammed the Indian team for creating needles controversies and went to the extent of terming them liars. He said:
"There is no point in making controversy, they've shown it from four angles that the ball hit the gloves and its pace also decreased before Alex Carey caught it behind the stumps. Akash Deep also complained of a similar thing when he was caught out. 'Juthe log hai yeh (they are liars)', you have to play fair wicket first then only you'll start winning. When the bat is in your hand, how can you not know about edging the ball?"
Sharing his thoughts on India's performance in the MCG Test, the 68-year-old questioned their tactics as well as their red-ball temperament and commented:
"We have played bad and we have lost. What kind of batting they're doing? Come the IPL, these players will hit runs. Don't play over-aggressive T20 cricket and play positively. Let's hope that the luck changes in the New Year (for the Indian team)."
Apart from Jaiswal, keeper-batter Rishabh Pant (30) was the only other batter to cross the double figure mark in India's second innings. For Australia, skipper Pat Cummins and Scott Boland claimed three wickets each, while veteran off spinner Nathan Lyon picked up two.
Team India's chances of qualifying for WTC final take a major hit
Following the defeat in the Boxing Day Test on Monday, Team India's chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final have suffered a major blow. For Rohit Sharma and co. to reach the summit clash, they need to beat the Aussies in Sydney in the New Year Test and then hope that Australia do not win any of their two Tests to be played in Sri Lanka.
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