Sunil Gavaskar Criticized for “Optical Illusion” Remark on Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Controversial Dismissal

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar faced backlash on social media for calling Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal an “optical illusion” during the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Melbourne. Jaiswal, who scored a valiant 84 while leading India’s chase of 340 against Australia, was controversially given out caught behind after the third umpire relied on visual evidence despite no spike on Snicko. The decision proved pivotal as Australia secured a dramatic victory, taking a 2-1 lead in the series.

Commenting on Channel 7, Gavaskar questioned the reliance on Snicko technology and stated that the perceived deflection could be an “optical illusion.” His remarks, dismissing the technological evidence, sparked outrage among cricket fans, who labeled the comments “pathetic” and “embarrassing.” Despite ball-tracking showing a deviation, Gavaskar suggested the phenomenon might result from the new ball’s swing rather than a nick, further fueling the controversy.

Warren Brennan, head of BBG Sports, which operates Snicko, later clarified the lack of a spike, explaining it as an issue with “ambient noise.” He mentioned that Hot Spot technology might have resolved the doubt. Nonetheless, the dismissal raised questions about the consistency of DRS technology and left fans and experts debating the credibility of the third umpire’s decision.

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