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'Fingers Clearly Underneath': Ponting Sides With Smith Over Controversial Kohli Catch

Akshita Patel∙ Updated: Jan 3 2025, 6:56 AM

Ricky Ponting supports Steve Smith amid controversy over catch [Source: @7Cricket, @SahilOberoi1/X.com]Ricky Ponting supports Steve Smith amid controversy over catch [Source: @7Cricket, @SahilOberoi1/X.com]

Former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting passed his judgment on the controversial catch of Steve Smith to dismiss Virat Kohli, which was deemed illegal by the TV umpire. Ponting was on air in the commentary box when he opined that Smith’s fingers were underneath the ball the whole time, and to him, it looked like a clean catch.

The fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia took a controversial turn in the first session of Day 1. The visitors had opted to bat first after winning the toss but Mitchell Marsh, and Scott Boland sent both the openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, packing on 10 and 4, respectively.

Steve Smith finds support in Ricky Ponting amid controversy over low catch

Virat Kohli, the veteran, walked into bat at no.4 alongside Shubman Gill. He once again edged outside the off-stump ball off Boland, and Steve Smith claimed a clean catch at the second slip. Kohli was all set to walk off on a golden duck dismissal before the TV umpire allowed him life by disallowing the catch.

The TV umpire opined that the ball slipped off Smith’s hand and rolled over to the ground before he picked it up again. 

A debate around the controversial call began shortly after, and former Australian captain Ricky Ponting shared his take during his stint in the commentary box. Ponting opined that had the ball slipped off Smith’s hands, he wouldn’t have been able to pick it up again. 

"As far as I was concerned, if (the ball) had've come out of (Smith's) hand, he wouldn't have been able to scoop it up. That's what I'm saying, I think his fingers are clearly underneath the ball ... look where his pointer figure is there, it's still underneath the ball," Ponting said.

In his eyes, the fielder’s fingers were underneath the ball, and Kohli should have walked back to the dressing room.

Rohit dropped as India stepped in under Bumrah’s captaincy

In a stunning turn of events, Rohit Sharma opted to rest for the fifth Test against Australia as Jasprit Bumrah stepped into the captaincy role. Sharma has been under fire as he managed to score only one half-century in the last 9 Tests. Moreover, his captaincy was also questioned as India lost back-to-back games in Adelaide and Melbourne. Hence, the management took the tough call to bring in Shubman Gill for Rohit for the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.