First test between India and New Zealand: Shubman Gill escapes sacked LBW, Aakash Chopra urges lover to be neutral

India ended the first day of Test 1 against New Zealand at 258/4 in Kanpur, with Shreyas Iyer (75*) and Ravindra Jadeja (50*) pulling the group out of preoccupation. New Zealand speedster Kyle Jamieson was in top form as he picked up three racquets to fix the home team back up. But half a century after opening the scoring, Shubman Gill laid a good foundation for the team. But things could have been different had New Zealand decided to reconsider a reckless decision in the 7th round by India.

Shubman Gill, who successfully used DRS in the third half of the round, was hit on the mattress by left-hander Ajaz Patel. There was an appeal but the on-site referee refused. Blackcaps decided not to replay and replays suggest that the ball may have hit the stump. Suspicion can arise in the minds of the captain and the New Zealand players from the fact that Gill has advanced down the track and the ball has a fair distance before hitting the stump.

Gill, who was hitting the ball over 6 at the time, had scored 52 runs before being fired by Jamieson. Getting that stick early in the game gives Kiwi the edge. Due to COVID-19 protocol and bio-bubbles, local umpires are being used in Test cricket.

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Beating poor referees on the first day of the match, former India opener and popular commentator Aakash Chopra stressed the need for neutral referees who sit on the governing board. elite director of the ICC. He suggested in a tweet that if players can stay in a biobubble, then why can’t the referee.

“Shubhman was taken out when there was a very large inner edge. Gill looked at it and said #ThankYouDRS And not given out when he’s out. All of that in the first 40 minutes. If teams can travel… in a biobubble… why can’t neutral referees? #IndvNZ“, Chopra wrote on her Twitter.

Shubhman was given as having a very large inner edge. Gill reviewed and said #ThankYouDRS
And not given out when he’s out. All of that in the first 40 minutes. If teams can travel… in a biobubble… why can’t neutral referees? #IndvNZ

– Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 25, 2021

Referees for the rest of the match will be scrutinized more closely after mistakes on the first day. This will make the job of the captains more difficult as they will now have to be more alert and assertive in their assessment.