Michael Gough, Richard Illingworth real heroes in high-pressure Mumbai Test

Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant’s dismissal left a sour taste in the mouth of Indian cricket team fans. Pant, who looked in a menacing mood on Day 3 of the Mumbai Test match, almost handed India a win in the 3rd Test match of the series.
However, things came crashing down in the 22nd over of the game, when the third umpire controversially adjudged the batter caught out off Ajaz Patel. Pant was given not out by on-field umpire Richard Illingworth when the ball popped up his pad and went into the hands of keeper Tom Blundell. However, via a DRS review indicated that the ball might have caught a feather edge off Pant’s bat, which prompted the third umpire to overturn the Illingworth’s decision.
The decision divided the fans on social media with some siding with Illingworth, stating that Pant was robbed. The decision had huge implications on the match as it looked like Pant would pull off an unlikely win on Sunday.
“About the dismissal, honestly, I don’t know. If we say something, it’s not accepted well. But if there is no conclusive evidence, it has to stand with the on-field decision. That’s what I have been told. I don’t know how that decision was overturned, since the umpire didn’t give him out,” Rohit Sharma said in the post-match press conference.
“The bat was close to the pads, again I don’t know if it is the right thing for me to talk about. It is something for the umpires to think about. Have the same rules for every team and not keep changing their mind,” he further added.
The comments reflected how much pressure there was on the match and how desperately both teams wanted to win. Especially for India, who were not only looking to avoid their first ever whitewash on home turf, but needed to win the Test to not put their WTC Final qualification in trouble.
There were a total of 14 times that the DRS was called into action. The vicious turn of the Wankhede pitch not only made life difficult for the players, but for the umpires too who had to watch every single ball with incredible focus.
Out of the 14 times that the DRS was called in Richard Illingworth and Michael Gough were correct 11 times. There were times that both umpires made brave calls, flirting the lines of the umpires call, but at the end they got the majority of the decisions right.
Here’s a chronological breakdown of all the times that DRS was called into action in Mumbai.
1. 3.2 – Akash Deep to Conway
Decision: Out (LBW)
Review: Conway reviewed but was found out.
Correctness: The umpires were correct; the ball was confirmed to hit the stumps.
2. 31.1 – Washington Sundar to Will Young
Decision: Not Out (LBW)
Review: India reviewed, but it was shown the ball hit the glove.
Correctness: The umpires were correct; the ball did hit the glove before the pad.
3. 39.1 – Ashwin to Mitchell
Decision: Out (LBW)
Review: Mitchell reviewed quickly; the ball hit the glove first.
Correctness: The umpires were correct in their initial call, but the review revealed the ball had touched the glove.
4. 59.5 – Washington Sundar to Mitchell
Decision: Not Out (LBW)
Review: India lost a review as it was shown to be missing leg stump.
Correctness: The umpires were correct; the ball was indeed missing leg.
5. 65.4 – Washington Sundar to Ajaz Patel
Decision: Out (LBW)
Review: Ajaz Patel reviewed but was found out, with all three reds on HawkEye.
Correctness: The umpires were correct; it was a clear LBW.

1. 17.3 – Ajaz Patel to Siraj
Decision: Out (LBW)
Review: Siraj reviewed but was found out.
Correctness: The umpires were correct; HawkEye confirmed the ball was hitting the top of off stump.
2. 37.3 – Ish Sodhi to Pant
Decision: Out (LBW)
Review: Pant reviewed, but the original decision stayed.
Correctness: The umpires were correct; ball-tracking showed it would clip leg stump.
3. 57.1 – Ajaz Patel to Washington Sundar
Decision: Not Out (LBW)
Review: New Zealand reviewed, but it was shown to be missing off stump.
Correctness: The umpires were correct; the ball was indeed missing.

1. 0.4 – Akash Deep to Latham
Decision: Out (LBW)
Review: Latham reviewed immediately; an inside edge was confirmed.
Correctness: The umpires were incorrect; there was clear evidence of an inside edge.
2. 21.1 – Ashwin to Mitchell
Decision: Not Out (LBW)
Review: India reviewed, but ball-tracking showed impact was outside off.
Correctness: The umpires were correct; the impact was indeed outside off.
3. 41.6 – Jadeja to Ajaz Patel
Decision: Out (Caught)
Review: Ajaz Patel reviewed but the decision stood as there was no bat involved.
Correctness: The umpires were correct; the ball was shown to be hitting the pad only.

1. 6.5 – Phillips to Jaiswal
Decision: Out (LBW)
Review: Jaiswal reviewed, but the UltraEdge indicated a spike.
Correctness: The umpires were incorrect; the ball appeared to be between bat and pad.
2. 21.4 – Ajaz Patel to Pant
Decision: Not Out (Caught)
Review: New Zealand reviewed; a faint edge was confirmed.
Correctness: The umpires were incorrect; the review revealed an inside edge.
3. 28.4 – Phillips to Ashwin
Decision: Out (Caught)
Review: Ashwin reviewed, but UltraEdge confirmed the glove was involved.
Correctness: The umpires were correct; there was clear evidence of glove contact.
Throughout this thrilling Test match, Michael Gough and Richard Illingworth displayed remarkable composure and accuracy, effectively managing a series of high-pressure decisions. Their ability to maintain the integrity of the game was critical, ensuring that correct calls were upheld while also acknowledging the few instances where reviews overturned initial decisions, turning them into the true heroes of the Wankhede Test match in Mumbai.