Australia vs India: Visitors not winning any friends with temper tantrum over DRS

India’s incessant bleating about the DRS decision that went against them at the MCG bears all the trademarks of a playground bully crying foul when they don’t get their own way, writes JULIAN LINDEN.

India cricket’s childish temper tantrum about technology supposedly conspiring against them isn’t winning the tourists any new friends.

Never shy about blowing their own trumpet whenever they do win on the field, India’s incessant bleating about the DRS decision that went against them in their 184-run loss to Australia in Melbourne bears all the trademarks of a playground bully crying foul when they don’t get their own way.

To be fair, the Indians are right that the technology, particularly snicko, isn’t perfect and has its obvious flaws. But their disproportionate dummy spit isn’t befitting of one of the most idolised teams in all sports.

There’s no doubt whatsoever that Yashasvi Jaiswal made clear contact with the ball delivered by Pat Cummins and the third umpire Sharfuddoula was entirely right to give him out.

Yashasvi Jaiswal argues with the umpires after DRS overturned his not out decision sending the Indian on his way. Picture: Michael Klein

Immensely talented, Jaiswal had every reason to feel unlucky after his brave occupation of the crease, but the correct ruling was made.

The only person braver was perhaps Sharfuddoula because most officials have been too scared to stand up against India ever since the white flag was raised during the 2008 “Monkeygate” scandal involving Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh and Australian all-rounder, the late Andrew Symonds.

The most recent reminder was when Virat Kohli got slapped with a lettuce leaf after his boorish collision with Aussie teenager Sam Konstas on day one at the MCG.

Kohli was lucky not to be suspended, but the most sinister blunder that’s occurred during this series is India’s sour response to the overturned DRS decision, with their captain Rohit Sharma, the BCCI’s vice president Rajeev Shukla and Sunil Gavaskar all whining about the ruling.

Sunil Gavaskar is facing heavy criticism online for claiming the deflection from Jaiswal was a mirage.

Gavaskar, the Indian batting legend whom the Border-Gavaskar series is co-named after, is at risk of becoming a social media meme after his absurd claim the deflection from Jaiswal was a mirage.

“Yes it looked like it might have gone off the glove but there can be an optical illusion,” Gavaskar said.

“Often we see when the ball is brand new, that the ball goes near the bat’s edge and then moves away, and that is because, you know, the optical illusion from those watching here is that it has taken a nick.”

Footage shows a clear deflection from Yashasvi Jaiswal. Picture: Fox Cricket

The first player to score 10,000 Test runs, Gavaskar’s eyesight was never questioned when he was opening the batting for his country, though his impartiality has been scrutinised at times.

In 1981, when he was captaining his country against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Gavaskar threatened to take his team off the field and abandon the match after he disagreed at being given out lbw, although years later he said he was protesting at the Australian players for giving him a spray.

The Indians have consistently opposed the introduction of DRS technology, right back to when the Little Master Sachin Tendulkar himself was playing, even though it has worked in their favour on occasions.

Most officials have been too scared to stand up against India ever since the white flag was raised during the 2008 “Monkeygate” scandal involving Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh and Australian all-rounder, the late Andrew Symonds.

India’s greatest player, Tendulkar remains a sceptic of DRS technology despite famously getting a reprieve thanks to the review system at the 2011 World Cup, won by India.

Initially given out lbw in the semi-final against Pakistan, Tendulkar got a second chance and went on to make a matchwinning 85.

Just starting out on his international career, Kohli was one of Tendulkar’s teammates in that same match.

Now getting towards the end, Kohli has also been a fierce opponent of technology and just recently blew up about another decision that went against India in the second test in Adelaide.

Aware of the enormous and fanatical following he commands, the impact to Kohli’s gripes have been swift and predictable, with an army of Indians now labelling Aussies as cheats on social media. There’s plenty to admire about India’s win-at-all costs approach to cricket but they won’t win any popularity contests.

Originally published as Australia vs India: Visitors not winning any friends with temper tantrum over DRS