Questions will be asked. Eyebrows will be raised. But Saikat (SIS Saikat) has made a bold decision. A brave decision. A decision to overturn the on-field call based purely on the naked eye. He had less than ideal evidence at his disposal, but he dared to stand by his conviction. And, Saikat was right.
In the commentary box, Sanjay Manjrekar was far from pleased. His insights poured in relentlessly, and understandably so. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy was on the line, as was India’s last chance to secure a spot in the World Test Championship final. And just like that, Jaiswal, India’s final hope, had been sent back to the pavilion.
Jaiswal’s journey to the top has been nothing short of extraordinary. A young player with little experience in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) conditions, he came to Australia and, in just four Test matches, transformed into India’s batting savior. The stalwarts—Rohit, Virat, and Gill had struggled, but Jaiswal stood tall.
Saikat’s rise, too, is the stuff of dreams. From the modest umpiring standards of Bangladesh to officiating on the grandest stage, the ICC World Cup, entering into ‘ICC Elite Panel Umpire’ list to officiate bilateral series where Bangladesh is not a part, and now the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, his journey has been a trailblazer for Bangladeshi umpires.
And then came that decision.
The Snickometer? Faulty. The Hotspot? No help. The only evidence was the video footage, the trajectory of the ball, and Saikat’s own judgment. The safer choice? Stick with the on-field call of “not out.” But Saikat took the road less traveled. He ruled Jaiswal out. India’s hope had been extinguished.
The moment sparked intense debate—one about the role of technology in sports and its potential to strip the game of its human drama. Saikat’s decision, however, could be a turning point. It reminds us that while technology brings accuracy, it’s still a system, it’s a program. There will be glitches, might not work always. The subsequence has seen to affect a lot of matches in the past. it’s the human courage that can shape the things right. Technology might fail. It might not feel. But humans can. Saikat did. He set the bar.
The evidence is clear: technology corrects human errors, but humans correct technological failures.
Saikat’s call has drawn mixed reactions. Some questioned him; others praised his guts. From Simon Taufel to Ravi Shastri to Ricky Ponting to the Indian Captain, Rohit Sharma—who later admitted Jaiswal had nicked the ball—Saikat has earned his share of plaudits.
This moment is more than just a decision; it’s a testament to the enduring role of human judgment in sports. It’s proof that in cricket, as in life, courage often defines greatness. Well done, Saikat.
