Ravichandran Ashwin didn’t mince his words when it came to umpire Paul Reiffel’s performance in the ongoing Lord’s Test. The former India spinner voiced strong criticism on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, alleging a clear bias in Reiffel’s decisions—especially when India is at the crease.
“Whenever India bowls, he feels it’s not out. And whenever India bats, everything’s out. That’s been my experience,” Ashwin said bluntly.
Controversial Decisions Spark Frustration
The comments came in the wake of two highly questionable calls from Reiffel during Day 4. The first was a denied LBW appeal against Joe Root off Mohammed Siraj. India reviewed, and while replays showed the ball clipping leg stump, the decision stayed ‘not out’ due to umpire’s call.
Siraj’s frustration was obvious. He stared down Reiffel, while Anil Kumble, commentating live, sarcastically noted that Reiffel had seemingly decided never to raise his finger on close ones.
Then came the drama involving Shubman Gill. Reiffel gave him out caught behind off Brydon Carse, despite a massive gap between bat and ball. Though DRS saved Gill, Ashwin questioned how such a blatant error was even made.
Ashwin to ICC: ‘If This Is Not Just Against India, It Needs Looking Into’
Ashwin made it clear he wasn’t asking for bias in India’s favor, but wanted fairness.
“I want to speak to him directly. Not to influence him, but to understand. If it’s not just against India, then the ICC has to look into this seriously.”
‘I Could Park My Car in That Gap’ – Ashwin on Gill’s Decision
Ashwin, with his signature dry wit, tore into the caught-behind call against Gill:
“I own a sedan. I could park it in the gap between bat and ball. That’s how wide the gap was. Yet the finger went up.”
He added that even his father, watching the match beside him, had lost faith:
“He told me, ‘Whenever Paul Reiffel is umpiring, India won’t win.’”
Ashwin also referenced commentary from Mike Atherton and Nasser Hussain, who criticized the overall quality and firmness of umpiring during the match.
Not the First Criticism Aimed at Reiffel
Ashwin isn’t alone in voicing frustration. Earlier in the series, Sunil Gavaskar, Jonathan Trott, and Anil Kumble had also called out Reiffel’s calls—especially in relation to Joe Root’s persistent luck with close decisions.
Lord’s Test Poised for Dramatic Finish
The Test itself remains finely balanced, with both teams in striking distance of a 2-1 series lead. India’s final-day hopes took an early blow as Rishabh Pant was clean-bowled by Jofra Archer for 16.
With questionable decisions piling up and the tension rising, Ashwin’s call for accountability adds another layer to an already dramatic Test at the Home of Cricket.
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