Image: At the MCG cheater chants echoed after Yashasvi Jaiswal's dismissal / © ESPNcricinfo
India vs Australia test matches have always been controversial for the fans as evidenced by the latest incident during the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 30, 2024. The controversy surrounded the dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal, which triggered an eruption of “cheater” chants from the Indian crowd.
Jaiswal, who had scored 84 runs from 208 balls, was dismissed after a review by the third umpire. The on-field umpire initially did not deem there was an edge, but after a review, the third umpire concluded the ball had deviated off Jaiswal’s glove and ruled him out. Despite replays showing no clear spike on the Snicko or sound, the decision sparked outrage among Indian supporters.
This wasn’t the only contentious moment, as later, Akash Deep was also dismissed following a review. Deep, who had made 7 runs, was given out after the third umpire upheld a faint spike shown on the Snicko, leaving the Indian lower order disheartened. The two decisions in quick succession added to the drama of the day, with India losing crucial wickets in their chase for 340. Australia’s dominance continued, and the controversial decisions only intensified the tension at the MCG.