Twitterati slams umpire for a questionable decision that dismissed MS Dhoni

India had a disappointing start to their ODI mission in Australia, losing the first match in Sydney by 34runs. Vice-captain Rohit Sharma scored a splendid century to keep the visitors in the hunt for a win even after the top order faced a debacle but he had far too less support to take his side home. The only high point in the Indian chase was the 137-run partnership between Sharma (133) and wicketkeeper MS Dhoni (51) but the pair consumed far too many deliveries to allow the pressure build up towards the end.

Dhoni was particularly slower of the two, taking 96 balls for his 51 runs to score at an ordinary average of 53.13 at No.5. Dhoni joined Rohit with India three down for just four runs on the board chasing the target of 289 and brought the innings back on the track but the asking rate went too high when Dhoni departed in the 33rd over.

Twitterati slams umpire for Dhoni’s lbw decision

Though the 37-year-old cricketer was too slow with his batting, his dismissal sparked a controversy as the delivery from debutant Jason Behrendorff was seen to have pitched outside the leg stump and hit the batsman’s leg in front of the wicket. Dhoni, who was on the backfoot, tried to flick it and missed and umpire Michael Gough raised his dreaded finger only to be slammed by the Twitterati. India could not contest the decision since they had no reviews left. The commentators called the decision to be a “shocker”.

Here is the video of the dismissal:

India are out of reviews and Dhoni has to go… #CloseMatters#AUSvIND | @GilletteAU pic.twitter.com/WRYVQPxwIM

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 12, 2019

Dhoni’s departure saw Dinesh Karthik come out but the pressure kept climbing up and he did not last long either. India’s chances got over as soon as Sharma, who hit his 22nd ODI ton in Sydney, got out off Marcus Stoinis’ bowling in the 46th over and it was only a late flourish from Bhuvneshwar Kumar (29 not out off 23 balls) that saw India crossing the 250-run mark. Pacer Jhye Richardson was adjudged the Man of the Match with a four-wicket haul. India play Australia in the do-or-die second game in Adelaide on January 15.

Here is how Twitterati reacted to the incident and slammed the umpire, even blaming him for India’s defeat:

Well play MSD and Ro hit sharma.But India lossing match.
And umpire is wrong Dhoni is not out but he given out.

— Sachin Dubey (@SachinD57604998) January 12, 2019

Not out tha dhoni bcccc umpire

— BJ SRK (@BJLoveSRK) January 12, 2019

👉 The decision of umpire on #Dhoni and the top order barring Rohit & Dhoni
👉 People who are blaming Dhoni are also wrong, we would request you to blame your "skipper" For making a "Huge 3" 😠😶

— Palak n Parakh (@parakh_palak7) January 12, 2019

#AusvInd Dhoni and Sharma were splendid. Umpire's poor decision cost us the match. Dhoni did what was needed. He took it deep. No one could have supported Rohit like that. Dhoni haters stop trolling Dhoni please.

— _ (@__MakeInIndia) January 12, 2019

Although many of u claiming that #dhoni consumed too many ball, bt while all team collapse at 4/3 then u have to build partnership.. and this was time when msd is accelerating himself and wrong decision from umpire,
Will be different result if that decision was correct. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/KTMFOAtYOU

— priya_ji (@un_addict) January 12, 2019

Blaming Dhoni is completely foolish job . Guy came to bat at 4-3 and took it to 140+ with Rohit & when he was going to accelerate foolish sold out umpire gave the worst decision #AusvsInd #indvsaus

— ᎡᏆᎠᎬᎡ ᏚᏆNᏩᎻ (@SRKrider1) January 12, 2019

Poor umpiring by Michael Gough. It was clearly outside the leg stump. This costed the match. @ICC should suspend and cancel the salary of this umpire. Had dhoni stayed in the middle result would have been reversed😏#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ecH9jMQfqq

— NaVeeN SRiniVAsAN (@beingnaveen27) January 12, 2019

Wrong decision by umpire 😠😠😠😠😠😠😠😠😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 Unlucky Ms Dhoni… Well played thala 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 #Dhoni #AUSvsIND #AusvIndia @msdhoni @BleedDhonism #MSDhoni #MSD #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/ASK7xeA9jv

— 🔥Thalapathy Appu 🔥 (@AppuKrish2) January 12, 2019

Hopeless Umpire ,The ball was pitched outside leg stump and Dhoni was not out . Chutiya Umpire

— Prakritiz Kallul (@PrakritizK) January 12, 2019

That was clearly pitched outside leg.

So not out … stupit umpire 😏#AUSvIND

.#Dhoni

— A.R.Saravanan (@sr_twitz) January 12, 2019

Well Played Champ @msdhoni 💪

50 in very difficult circumstances

Here where's Experience Counts👏

So proud of u🙂

Now Next Rohit and Karthik
Come on India 💪🇮🇳

PS : MS Dhoni was not out. Well Done Stupid Umpire#AUSvIND #INDvAUS

— Aparna 🇮🇳 (@Jayaa_IND) January 12, 2019

India were 4-3 in just 3 overs. #Dhoni & #rohit steadied the ship..great 50 by both..But,dhoni departs wrong decision by umpire,no more reviews for India..
It's pitching outside leg for dhoni..#INDvsAUS #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/a0t6gBVTCo

— Thanish official (@Thanish1007) January 12, 2019

As expected , @msdhoni was not out! Ball pitched outside of leg stumps it was clearly visible. A blunder from on field umpire. MSD was well settled for a big knock! Dhoni haters, this time plz don’t hate him. #request #INDvAUS

— Sourabh Sanyal (@sourabhsanyal) January 12, 2019

Big Mistake By The Umpire ☹😒#MSDhoni #Dhoni #Fans #Cricket #Love #TeamIndia #RohitSharma #AUSvIND #Australia #India #ODI #Legend #SydneyODI pic.twitter.com/YOlygkRzvq

— Aabhas Raj (@msdhoniaddicted) January 12, 2019

#1stODI#Dhoni
Bowlers didn't took his wicket
Umpire took that wicket
So Australia's thing… pic.twitter.com/zmQG9alc0E

— Mohit…. (@mohitahuja777) January 12, 2019

#Dhoni Well played….. has a fifty… congratulations you written new history… Love you lot 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍umpire's #wrongdecision…… @msdfansofficial@msdhoni @SaakshiSRawat @msdfansofficial @DHONIism @ZivaSinghDhoni @MSDhonifansclub @AKDFAOfficial pic.twitter.com/FnYNjCCJhg

— HARI (@Harikri86736803) January 12, 2019