Bangladeshi umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat has found himself at the centre of an intense debate following a contentious decision made during the third One-Day International between India and the West Indies at the PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh. Officiating as the TV third umpire for the match, Saikat made a crucial call against West Indies batter Sherfane Rutherford that sparked widespread criticism from players, commentators, and supporters alike.
The flashpoint occurred off the final delivery of the 30th over. Indian off-spinner Naman Dhir—who plays alongside Rutherford for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League—bowled a delivery outside off stump. Rutherford attempted a cut shot, after which Indian wicketkeeper KL Rahul collected the ball and appealed for a catch. On-field officials upheld the appeal and raised the finger, prompting Rutherford to request a review immediately.
When the television replays were examined, UltraEdge registered a distinct spike as the ball passed the bat. However, secondary angles also revealed a noticeable gap between the bat edge and the ball, with television coverage indicating that the spike was caused by the bat hitting the pad. Despite these visual discrepancies, Saikat determined there was insufficient evidence to overturn the initial call and upheld the on-field decision. Rutherford expressed visible dismay on the pitch before departing for 24 runs off 25 deliveries.
The decision triggered immediate backlash across the cricketing community. Former Indian cricketer and television commentator Aakash Chopra weighed in on social media platform X, stating that Rutherford was not out and pointing out that the bat had clearly struck the pad. Journalist Vikrant Gupta echoed those sentiments, questioning how the TV umpire failed to notice the obvious gap between the edge and the ball when it was plainly visible on television broadcasts.
Despite the controversy, the West Indies went on to seal a dramatic victory, chasing down a formidable target of 352 runs to win by five wickets with 10 balls to spare. Captain Shai Hope anchored the pursuit with an outstanding, unbeaten 162 off 143 balls. Earlier in the day, India had posted an imposing total of 351 runs, powered by KL Rahul’s undefeated 129 off 87 balls, Rohit Sharma’s top-order 92 off 85 balls, and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 57. Although the West Indies claimed victory in the final match, India secured the three-match series 2–1 having won the opening two fixtures.
