The Controversial Catch That Rocked the Match
In a thrilling twist during Australia’s innings in the third T20I against India, substitute fielder Rinku Singh found himself at the heart of a significant catch controversy. The tension was palpable when Arshdeep Singh, bowling his third over, delivered a low full toss outside off to Marcus Stoinis. Stoinis lofted it towards long-on, and Rinku, with incredible athleticism, dived forward to seemingly pluck a sensational low catch.
His immediate celebration, tossing the ball skyward as teammates rushed to congratulate him, painted a picture of a crucial wicket. However, the jubilant scene quickly turned contentious.
The Umpire’s Call: Not Out!
The third umpire was called upon to review the catch, and after multiple replays from various angles, the decision sent ripples of disbelief through the Indian camp and a roar of approval from the crowd. The umpire ruled ‘not out’, confirming that the ball had indeed bounced just inches before Rinku’s hands made contact. It was a marginal call, but one that significantly altered the momentum of the game.
Stoinis Capitalizes, Rinku Finds Redemption
The reprieve proved to be a turning point for Marcus Stoinis. Seizing the opportunity, he unleashed a flurry of boundaries, smashing three in the remaining five deliveries of that very over to reach his half-century. His aggressive knock of 64 off 39 balls, featuring eight fours and two sixes, was instrumental in propelling Australia to a challenging total of 186 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs.
Yet, the narrative wasn’t over for Rinku Singh. In a poetic turn of events in the final over, Arshdeep Singh returned, and Stoinis once again attempted a lofted shot. This time, Rinku was perfectly positioned at long-on and made absolutely no mistake, completing the catch cleanly to dismiss the Australian all-rounder. Arshdeep acknowledged Stoinis’s impressive innings with a fist bump, marking a respectful end to an eventful passage of play.
Ultimately, Australia finished their innings at 186 for 6, with Matthew Short remaining unbeaten on 26 off 15 balls and Xavier Bartlett on 3. The controversial catch and Rinku Singh’s eventual redemption added a dramatic flair to an already exciting T20 encounter.