Mitchell’s LBW call sparks debate on DRS, spirit of game

Auckland, February 8 

New Zealand batsman Daryl Mitchell fell to a contentious LBW call in the second T20I today, triggering a debate on the DRS and spirit of the game. Mitchell was given out LBW to Krunal Pandya in the seventh over of the New Zealand innings by the on-field umpires; the batsman opted for a review on the insistence of his skipper Kane Williamson. TV replays showed there was an inside edge and the Hotspot too showed an unmistakable spot as the ball passed the bat, but he was still given out by third umpire Shaun Haig. 

“This is a horror decision,” said the on-air commentators. Williamson expressed his dismay to the umpires, and asked to Mitchell to stop. The situation became a little animated when wicketkeeper MS Dhoni had a word with Williamson and the umpires. “We were just waiting for the umpire’s call because we can’t do anything about it. Whatever the umpires said, we just accepted it,” said Indian pacer Khaleel Ahmed.

In the end, the on-field umpires went by the rule book and Mitchell had to make his way back to the dugout.  The only way he could have survived the howler was if the Indian skipper had called him back after replays on the big screen made it clear that there was an inside edge. — PTI