Matthew Hayden sparks controversy with on-air comment during IND vs AUS thriller
IND vs AUS : India's T20I team secured victory against Australia in Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium, winning the series 4-1. Despite posting a sub-par 160, the Indian bowlers defended it well, clinching the match by six runs, with Mukesh Kumar (3/32) and Arshdeep Singh (2/40) shining in the death overs.
However, the game's closure sparked controversy due to a couple of questionable umpire decisions in the final over, drawing an unwanted comment from Matthew Hayden. The first instance saw a missed wide call when Arshdeep's bouncer was notably above Matthew Wade's head. Hayden mentioned, "You can see why he is upset, that's definitely a wide. Way over his head. It has to be about his position as well."
Later, a ball hit the umpire, deflecting off Arshdeep's hands, impacting Nathan Ellis's shot. Hayden remarked, "The umpire has done his job for the second time this over. Have a look at this. This time, it's the one in front, not on square. They are tag-teaming here."
Criticism ensued on Twitter, with one user expressing disapproval, deeming Hayden's remarks as unwelcome. The contentious aspect was the missed wide call, which might have altered the equation marginally, but wouldn't have significantly impacted Australia's win chances, given the circumstances.
- With inputs from agencies
