ENG vs IND | Twitter lambasts Dharmasena for continuing to break protocol by misusing review powers

08/04/2025

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Umpires are meant to be the protectors and executioners of the laws of cricket, responsible for upholding the regulations in the spirit they are intended. Yet, Kumar Dharmasena has ironically been flirting with those boundaries in the fifth Test between India and England at The Oval.

Kumar Dharmasena has made a series of questionable calls in the fifth Test between England and India at The Oval

History was set to be made one way or another at The Oval on Day 5 with the fifth Test between India and England hanging on a knife's edge and the circumstances assured the result would have its fair share of drama associated with it. When Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna began making the ball talk at the start of play, the narrative only gained further strength. Yet, once the breakthrough to flood open the contest did arrive, the focus shifted to umpire Kumar Dharmasena -- as should hardly ever be the case for an official.

Siraj was hitting the outside off channel with unnerring accuracy, his natural ability to shape the ball away leaving the Englishmen in disarray. Jamie Smith was visibly uncomfortable at the crease as he kept hanging his bat away from the body tentatively, as if teasing the outside edge, before the inevitable occurred in the 78th over when the red cherry kissed the willow and nestled into Dhruv Jurel's palms The Men in Blue wheeled away in ecstacy, the loud noise as the ball passed the bat leaving little room for doubt, but to their surprise Kumar Dharmasena remained unmoved. However, just as their frustration was turning to agony, the Sri Lankan umpire calmed down the frantic voices and walked over to his square-leg partner to check for a clean catch, consequently asking a video review for the same. Replays showed not only was Jurel;s grab legal but that he had collected the ball well above the surface, meaning there was never any doubt to begin in the first place.

While eventually the result was the correct one, Dharmasena's methods made Twitterati raise questions.

Siraj strikes

— Why_Benstokes (@benstokes94425)

That's right

Kumar Dharmasena should be making a decision there. Why are they checking if he hit it? If he hasn’t, it’s either on India or England to review it. Horrible umpiring.
— Matthew Stone (@stone1_matthew)

Didn't see it

Looked like Dharmasena probably didn’t see it carry because Smith walked down and across the track, probably difficult to see
— Haz ⚡️ (@hazza_skywalker)

Why exactly

I want to know why exactly Kumar Dharmasena sent it upstairs? Why exactly?
— Ayush (@ayushl07)

Need answers

What was umpire Dharmasena NOT sure about that caught behind? 😱
— Silvereye (@_Break_Free___)

He is

Is Dharmasena really an international umpire?
— VjnMSDforever (@anilsunilkool)

Coward

Needed to refer that to the third umpire! Oh Dharmasena you coward. 😂
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh)

Just imagine

Imagine India stuck with no reviews and Dharmasena giving THIS not out!!!
— Vinayak_ADX (@Vinayak_ADX)

Yeah he did

Did Kumar Dharmasena actually went to the 3rd umpire to check whether it carried when Jurel took it at his knee height? Nah these 2 umpires have been playing for England the entire match.
— Prantik (@Pran__07)

Sack him