Dinesh Karthik Criticizes Mohammed Siraj and Match Officials Amid Drama in IND vs ENG Test
Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik ,In a gripping Day 4 of the final Test between India and England at the Kennington Oval, former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik didn’t hold back in his analysis, slamming pacer Mohammed Siraj for a costly fielding error and criticizing match officials for an early call of stumps.
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Siraj’s Boundary Blunder Draws Karthik’s Ire
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In the 35th over of a close session, Harry Brook tried a daring shot off Prasidh Krishna, but mistimed it and blasted it straight to Mohammed Siraj at long leg.
Karthik, who was analyzing the game on Cricbuzz, was clearly unimpressed. “Maybe he was just chilling,” he said, hinting that Siraj wasn’t fully focused. “He had just walked back onto the field and was chatting with the masseuse and Arshdeep Singh. That moment changed the game’s momentum,” he noted.
He further explained the technical mistake, saying Siraj didn’t judge the ball well. “When you’re running back to take a catch, you need to get under the ball quickly and have a strong base. Siraj was still moving backward while catching, indicating poor judgment,” Karthik added.
Brook Makes India Pay
Harry Brook, who was on just 19 runs at the time of the reprieve, went on to smash a brilliant 111 off 98 balls, forming a massive 195-run partnership with Joe Root. This stand shifted the match heavily in England’s favor during their daunting 374-run chase.
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Karthik Also Criticizes Akash Deep
Dinesh Karthik didn’t stop at Siraj. He also pointed fingers at Akash Deep, stating the young pacer failed to live up to expectations after an impressive performance at Edgbaston. “He bowled too much down the leg. His line was all over the place,” Karthik said, suggesting that Deep had a lot of room for improvement.
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Umpires Slammed for Early Stumps Call
As the match headed into a nail-biting finish, bad light brought play to an abrupt halt on Day 4—even though rain had stopped and there was still light to resume play.
Karthik, alongside former England captain Nasser Hussain, questioned the lack of common sense by the umpires. Both felt that the series deserved a dramatic finish in front of a packed Oval crowd.
According to Karthik, the umpires should have at least asked if both teams would be open to extending play by thirty minutes. . It was also the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, so it wasn’t just any series. To finish in front of 20,000 spectators on Day 4 would have been perfect.
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The Bigger Picture
At the end of Day 4, England required just 35 more runs, while India needed 4 wickets. It was a clash of nerves and tactics, and as Day 5 looms, both teams are on edge.
With players like Chris Woakes willing to bat through injury and India’s bowlers regaining rhythm, a dramatic conclusion is expected—if weather and officials allow it.
Dinesh Karthik questions India’s intensity and mindset
As Day 4 of the gripping Test drew to a close, Dinesh Karthik voiced his concerns not only about individual lapses like those of Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, but also the overall mindset of the Indian team. He observed that key moments were not seized and the momentum slipped away when it mattered most.
“Test cricket is all about moments,” Karthik emphasized. “The dropped catch, the missed lines, the early stumps—all these little things add up. And when you’re playing a series-decider at the Oval, you simply can’t afford to switch off mentally even for a moment.”
This is not the first time Dinesh Karthik has taken an honest stance. Since moving into commentary, he has become known for calling things as they are, whether it be player performances or officiating decisions. His balanced yet firm tone has made him a fan-favorite in the commentary box.
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Final Thoughts
With so much at stake and Day 5 promising great drama, fans from all over the world will be watching every ball.
For more Dinesh Karthik analysis and comprehensive coverage of the IND vs. ENG Test final, stay tuned.
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