Cricket

India A's Appeal Denied in Controversial Catch DecisionIndia A's hopes of leveling the unofficial Test series against Australia A were dealt a blow on the second day of the second match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. A contentious catch decision involving Australia A opener Marcus Harris left the Indian players and fans in disbelief.During the 22nd over of Australia A's innings, spinner Tanush Kotian delivered a delivery that drifted into Harris before spinning away. The ball appeared to clip the edge of Harris' bat and flew to the fielder at first slip, who claimed the catch cleanly.However, to the astonishment of the India A players, on-field umpire Mike Graham-Smith ruled Harris not out. The Indian players, including Kotian, were adamant that Harris had edged the ball, but their appeals were met with indifference.Harris, who was batting on 48 at the time, survived the appeal and went on to complete his half-century before being caught behind off Prasidh Krishna on 74. The incident sparked a heated exchange between the India A players and the umpire, with the Indians gesticulating and expressing their frustration.Harris, on the other hand, indicated that the sound had come from his bat clipping his pad. The commentators on air also expressed their disbelief, stating that it appeared to be a clear edge.The controversial decision has cast a shadow over the second unofficial Test, which is seen as an audition for players from both teams to earn a spot in the senior sides for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The first unofficial Test was won by Australia A by seven wickets, giving them a 1-0 lead in the series.The second match began on Thursday with Australia A opting to bowl and dismissing India A for 161. In reply, the hosts took a 62-run lead after being bowled out for 223. The match is set to resume on Saturday, with India A needing to find a way to break through Australia A's batting lineup and level the series.

Suryakumar Yadav's sensational catch in the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup against South Africa in Barbados has sparked controversy and debate. The stunning grab from Suryakumar at the boundary line was so close that it led to a controversy.Needing 16 runs from the final over, South Africa had David Miller on the strike. The southpaw hit a wide full toss from Hardik Pandya but Suryakumar was able to catch the ball inside the ropes at long-off, realized it just as he went over the boundary, and then came back in to complete an astonishing catch.South Africa star Tabraiz Shamsi took a dig at the catch in a social media post on Thursday. "If they used this method to check the catch in the world cup final maybe it would have been given not out," he wrote in a post. Along with the post was a video showing a local cricket match.The post did not go down well with several social media users, with many saying Shami was 'crying' and that he was a sore loser. Then, Shamsi issued a clarification. "In case some people don't understand that it's meant to be a joke and no one is crying... let me explain it to you like a 4-year-old child. It's A Joke," he wrote.Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav expressed his desire to "earn a spot" in the Indian Test team, saying that red-ball cricket is a priority for him. India is scheduled to play 10 Tests over the next few months. Although a regular in India's white-ball setup, Suryakumar has played only one Test - against Australia in February 2023, scoring eight runs in his solitary Test inning. In the same year, he was named as one of the reserves in the ICC World Test Championship Final squad.With Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, KL Rahul, and Rajat Patidar also fighting for a spot, Suryakumar acknowledges the uphill task ahead of him. "There are a lot of people who have worked really hard to earn their place and even I want to earn that spot again," Suryakumar said as quoted by ICC."I made my debut for India in Tests. After that, I got injured as well. There were a lot of people who got an opportunity and have done well too. They deserve that opportunity right now," he added.The 33-year-old will return to play red-ball cricket in the Duleep Trophy - India's domestic tournament - for his home side Mumbai. Suryakumar will also make his appearance in the Buchi Babu tournament.

Suryakumar Yadav's gravity-defying catch in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa has sparked a heated debate over its legitimacy. While many have hailed it as a stunning display of athleticism, others have questioned its fairness.In a recent interview, Yadav addressed the controversy surrounding the catch. He vehemently denied touching the boundary line during the catch, stating, "I didn't touch the line when I caught the ball in the final match against South Africa."Yadav explained that he had practiced such catches extensively and was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. "I had practiced many times to take a catch like that one. During the match, my mind was calm. God gave me an opportunity to do well for the country," he said.The catch has drawn comparisons to the iconic catch taken by Kapil Dev in the 1983 World Cup final against the West Indies. Dev's catch, which involved running sideways from mid-on, is widely regarded as one of the greatest catches in cricket history.However, some social media users have alleged that the boundary cushion was deliberately pushed outside during the second innings to give India an unfair advantage. Yadav dismissed these claims, saying, "We can't keep everyone happy. I did what occurred to me as correct."Despite the controversy, Yadav's catch remains a defining moment in his career. It showcased his exceptional fielding skills and contributed to India's victory in the World Cup final.

Suryakumar Yadav's sensational catch in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa has been the subject of much debate and controversy. A fresh video angle has now emerged, providing a clearer perspective on the incident.In the final over of the match, with South Africa needing 16 runs to win, David Miller hit a wide full toss from Hardik Pandya towards long-off. Suryakumar, positioned at the boundary line, initially caught the ball inside the ropes but realized he had overstepped as he went over the boundary. He then quickly came back in to complete the catch.Initial video angles of the catch sparked claims that it was not a fair catch. However, the new video shows that Suryakumar clearly caught the ball inside the boundary line before stepping over. The video also confirms that the boundary cushion was not deliberately pushed outside during the second innings to give India an unfair advantage.The catch has drawn comparisons to the iconic catch taken by Kapil Dev in the 1983 World Cup final against the West Indies. Dev ran sideways from mid-on to take a blinder off a top-edged shot from Viv Richards.Suryakumar expressed his gratitude for being able to make such a crucial play for his country. "I am just grateful to be in that moment to do something special for the country...god's plan it was," he said.The fresh video angle has put to rest any lingering doubts about the legitimacy of Suryakumar's catch. It was a remarkable display of athleticism and skill that helped India secure a memorable victory in the T20 World Cup final.