The high-stakes fifth Test between England and India is only a day old, but it has already plunged into controversy. In a series that has seen its fair share of drama, umpiring decisions have now taken centre stage, and this time, it is Kumar Dharmasena who finds himself at the heart of the storm.
On Day 1, during a tense passage of play, Kumar Dharmasena made a critical mistake that altered how the game unfolded, and not everyone is willing to brush it off as a minor error.
The moment occurred in the 13th over, with Josh Tongue steaming in, bowling a full, inswinging yorker that tailed sharply into young Indian batter Sai Sudharsan. Caught off-guard, the Gujarat Titans left-hander attempted to bring his bat down in defence but lost his balance and crumpled to the ground. The ball struck him low on the pad.
England erupted with a full-throated LBW appeal. But umpire Kumar Dharmasena wasn’t interested. He immediately shook his head and followed it up with a hand gesture by tapping his fingers together to signal an inside edge. That sign was enough for England to pull back from using their DRS review, believing the umpire’s visual cue was reliable.
But as replays later confirmed, there was indeed an inside edge. This time, the system and the umpire aligned, but should Dharmasena have given away that hint in the first place?
Sanjay Bangar lashes out at Kumar Dharmasena
Former India all-rounder and coach Sanjay Bangar didn’t mince his words during his appearance on Star Sports. Clearly annoyed by the incident, Bangar questioned Dharmasena’s professionalism and awareness of the current rules.
Kumar Dharmasena indicated a bat involvement when the DRS timer was on. pic.twitter.com/UQlY8c7N3k
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 1, 2025
“These habits don’t go away easily for umpires because it’s second nature to them. Whenever there is an appeal, you try to say it. Because when Dharmasena had started his umpiring career, there was no DRS then,” Bangar said.
“But now, you are not supposed to give a signal on what’s going on in your mind. Or else, the bowler and the bowling team gets a hint. The umpire should not have done that,” he added firmly.
Bangar’s frustration isn’t just about the rules. It’s about fairness. In an age where technology helps level the playing field, on-field gestures like this could easily tip the balance, even unintentionally.
This wasn’t a decision error. Dharmasena was right about the inside edge. But his hand gesture directly influenced the opposition’s decision-making in a game where every review counts.
Fans and experts alike have questioned whether umpires are adapting fast enough to the DRS era. The 15-second review window is meant to be a team’s tactical call, not influenced by subtle signals or subconscious habits of umpires.
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And this isn’t the first time Kumar Dharmasena has come under fire. From questionable LBWs to misjudged catches, his record has drawn criticism in the past, and this latest mistake only adds fuel to that narrative.
Indian umpire Anil Chaudhary reacts to Kumar Dharmasena’s controversial gesture
Meanwhile, veteran Indian umpire Anil Chaudhary stepped in with a more empathetic take. Speaking to MyKhel, he explained how such gestures, though unintended, can slip through in the heat of the moment.
“It just happens by mistake. No umpire at that level will do it deliberately,” Chaudhary said. “It also sometimes happens with us in domestic matches, as it happens in a flow. But you have to be very careful, especially in the 15 seconds with the DRS.”
Umpires are human, and instincts built over decades can resurface even when the stakes are high. But at the same time, this is international cricket, where the standard is high, and the margins are fine.