BARBADOS: The catch sparked comparisons with Kapil Dev’s 1983 moment, but many social media users felt that Suryakumar Yadav’s shoe had flipped the boundary cushion.
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Ian Smith termed it “one of the greatest” in cricket history. Suryakumar Yadav’s brilliant effort, which won India T20 World Cup title, failed to refute controversy hours following India beat South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Saturday.
While the entire country celebrated and credited Suryakumar Yadav’s for his stunning presence of mind near the boundary ropes to seal the win for India, a fresh footage from an eagle-eyed fan sparked controversy as to whether the Proteas were denied their moment under the sun or not.
South Africans were looking for their first-ever major title in world cricket. South Africa seemed well on course towards a stunning victory before India pulled things back in the death overs to limit the side 7 runs short of the target.
The catch was taken in the last over, with the Proteas needing 16 runs to win when Miller smashed the ball over the bowler.
It seemed destined to fly over the boundary ropes before Suryakumar Yadav intervened and took it out of thin air, then juggled it up as he went over the ropes, before handling to hold on to it with his feet millimetres away from the boundary pillow.
Third umpire Richard Kettleborough gave it a very quick look and thought it a legal catch as South Africans lost their last hope with Miller departing for 21 runs.
Many social media users thought Suryakumar’s shoe had flipped the boundary pillow when he took the catch at long-off before throwing the ball up in the air.
A South African fan says, “This surely deserved more than one look, just saying. Boundary rope looks like it clearly moves.”
Another social media user emphasized that the cushioning of the boundary rope was pushed back just before the catch. As per ICC’s playing conditions, it is the pad and not the white line.
Section 19.3 says: “If a solid object used to mark the boundary is disturbed for any reason, then the boundary shall be considered to be in its original position.”
The social media post surely hinted that the rope may have been moved earlier during the final match and it should have been moved back to its original place.
Kagiso Rabada got a lucky boundary on the next ball after Miller’s dismissal, escaping a caught behind off a thick outside edge, but South Africa managed just four more runs in the next four balls, including another dismissal as India secured a narrow 7-run win.
