Indian players were infuriated when South African skipper Dean Elgar’s initial LBW decision was overturned by the DRS during the third day’s play in the decisive third and final Test in Cape Town on Thursday.
With the entire series boiling down to the final innings of the final Test, India were hoping to make early breakthroughs after only managing to set a target of 212 runs, despite wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant’s valiant unbeaten century.
The incident happened during the 21st over of South Africa’s innings, with the score at 60 for one and Elgar batting at 22. Ravichandran Ashwin trapped Elgar on the pads and the on field umpire adjudged LBW.
However, Elgar reviewed the decision, with hawk-eye showing the ball going over the stumps. This frustrated the Indian team, as replays were showing the ball hit below the South African skipper’s knee roll.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli particularly enraged with the decision, as he walked over to the stump mic and vented his frustrations.
“Focus on your team as well when they shine the ball. Not just the opposition, trying to catch people all the time,” Kohli said at the stump mic.
Watch Kohli venting his frustration here:
Other players, including, Ashwin and opener KL Rahul were also heard at the stump mic.
“You have got to find better ways to win SuperSport (official broadcaster in South Africa),” Ashwin was heard saying.
“Whole country is playing against eleven,” Rahul said.
Earlier, India were bowled out for just 198 runs, despite Pant notching the fourth ton of his Test career. The 24-year-old became the first Asian wicketkeeper-batsman to score a Test century on South African soil, but kept running out of partners at the other end as only two other Indian batters reached double figures – Kohli (29) and Rahul (10).