‘This Paul Rifle is new Steve Bakner’, Indian fans raged after seeing umpiring in Lord’s Test
During the third Test match being played between England and India at Lord’s, the level of umpiring was very poor and many decisions were also questioned. After continuous poor decisions against India, fans of umpire Paul Rifle fiercely conducted classes. The rifle gave several wrong decisions against Shubman Gill against the first Indian fast bowlers and then on the last day of the Test match, which provoked the fans and even called him a new Steve Bakner.
Rifle called Gill caught out in the last hour of the fourth day of the Lord’s Test, while he was notout. Gill Bridan missed a full-length ball of the cars and the ball went straight to the keeper. As soon as England appealed, the rifle raised his finger without any hesitation. Gill immediately demanded the DRS, showing that the ball went from one or two inches away from the edge of his bat. After this the umpire had to change his decision.
On Sunday, July 12, the rifle did not pronounce any controversial decision against India for the first time. During India’s bowling, the rifle rejected Mohammad Siraj’s LBW appeal against Joe Root, while the batsman’s two stumps were seen while hitting the ball pad. When India appealed for the DRS review, the replay showed that the root was in front of the stumps. At the time of the ball, the leg stump was clearly visible, which increased India’s breakthrough’s hopes.
However, the intentions of the ball-tracking system were different and showed that the ball would leave the leg stump. Route survived due to the umpires call. Captain Gill and Siraj were shocked and disappointed with this decision. At the same time, Gavaskar, who was commenting at that time, also expressed his opinion. Questioning the reliability of ball-tracking data, he said that it was showing highly speedy speed. After seeing the level of umpiring in this match, fans are fiercely putting a rifle class on social media. Let’s see what fans are saying.
Seems Paul Riefel is Blind.
Needs Eye Checkup Asap.
ICC Shud Suspend Such Umpires who have no shame in giving pic.twitter.com/7BY006HDN4
– Vinay Kumar Dokania (@vinaydokania) July 13, 2025
Paul reifel for india this game pic.twitter.com/0g5lfmnofu
– Neel Patel (@Neelpatel189) July 13, 2025
Paul reiffel if you ever decide to come here pic.twitter.com/jlb5jjts1
– Amber (@beydardiraja) July 13, 2025
Paul reiffel, please retire. That is as plumb as it gets and should have been given out onfield.
– Zucker Doctor (@Doctorlfc) July 13, 2025
